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1 

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6 

H 


THE 


GIBBET  OF  REGINA 


Vx 


li 


4 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  RIEL 

SIR  JOHN  A.   MACDONALD  AND  HIS  CABINET 
BEFORE  PUBLIC  OPINION 


BY 


OnsTE  "Wkco  iC3sro^;Ars 


Keto  ¥orft 

THOMPSON  &  MOREAU.   PRINTERS  AND  PUBLISHERS 
51  AND  53  Maiden  Lane 

laee 


Copyright,  1886,  by  TII^^fpsoN  &  Mokeau,  New  York. 

tc. 


PREFACE. 


Nkw  York,  x\ovemher  17tli,  1885. 


srk. 


I 


My  Dear  Mr.  Thompson:— 


All  is  over ! 
Louis  David  Riel  is  no  more  ' 
episode'"''^  ''i^tory  counts  in  its  pages  n  now  bloody 

and^od;s;r;^::;t*^/rr '^^^i-'s^^^  ^' 

and  his  CabL.t.    ^i^U^'d:^^^^^]^^^^^^ 
ism  has   won  the  dnv       \-..  Liat  led  !    Orange- 

few  davs  a.ro  th'it     ;Yr      V  }'  T"''^  '^'"  ^'""'^tingi 

^-uld   dare":i^;r  ^  ;;     eml' r'n'^Vf  S^^'^ 
again.t  Riel.     To-day   touhrk        i  '    '''-'''^'"' 

S^L?;^-*' -S,;y-i::;f^--"l;;^ 

live  years  I  lived  in  MaJi.T  "'""-"""  """"8  the 

i;KiX;:tVw".Zv:r;„;;°i:>  ',^i,',l'=,  "-^  °'  ^-^ 

that  I  am   oniv  inr.  i,o    >^"V"^^'"i  't,  rest  assured 
«enernl  i^,p°ei'„i'::  a'  S'.Td  tZi"'*;  7'^'  '"  "'^ 
of  .he  French  Half.breeirLoul 'i:>';i"i(tr"""°" 
Very  respectfully, 

One  Who  Knows. 
^c?  tAe  American  puhUc : 

execmL"'°TV'"*''  '  '"""'  "  '"^  '^y'  ^''^'  R-'l's 
execution.     Like  a  great  number,  I  had  hoped  aeainst 

We,  that  what  has  taken  p.aee  could,  and  TcuMt: 


_4  — 


been  avoided.  I>iit,  it  appears,  tliat  every  friend  of  jus- 
tice and  Imnianity  was  fated  to  a  sad  disappointment ; 
noneeonid  have  antieipated  tliat  blind  hatred  \V(»uhl  have 
l)revailed  against  the  uid)iassed  and  unanimous  opinion  of 
the  wlude  civilized  worhj. 

After  a  careful  readinir,  1  decided  to  j)ublish,  in  the 
form  of  a  book,  the  manuseript  I'l'ferred  to,  because  it  is 
based  upon  undeniable  facts;  because  those  facts  and 
occurrences  are  vouchsafed  for  by  meji  who  liave  closelv 
followed  the  transformation  of  tlie  Canadian  North-west 
into  a  con«;lonicrant  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

These  pa^cs,  to  be  sure,  are  written  with  great  vehc- 
meT'ce  of  language  ;  but,  how  coukl  it  be  otherwise  i  The 
^  er  saw,  felt  and  com])rehended.  Suavity  of  language 
coukl  not  adequately  have  painted  criminality  organized 
into  a  system. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  the  American  reader — conscien- 
tious, searching  and  logical  by  nature — will  find,  in  these 
pages,  matter  to  reflect  upon. 

On  the  one  hand,  he  will  find  short-sighted  policy, 
criminal  indifference  and  cowardly  animosity,  all  com- 
bined to  crush  vested  rights,  ignore  solemn  and  oft- 
repeated  pledges,  and  violate  all  those  principles  of 
humanity  that  are  recognized  and  respected  by  all  nations 
having  any  claim  to  be  called  civilized. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  American  reader  will  find  an 
isolated  and  circumscribed,  but  spirited  race — the  victim 
of  unmitigated   outrages  and  base  misrepresentations — 


^ 


o 


fiirlitiiiir  <iiraiiist  liiri^c  o'Ms  for  the  rovoiKlifiition  of  their 
rights  and  th(^  ])r<)tt'cti(Hi  of  their  homes  and  families. 

Far  from  me  the  tlioiii!;ht  of  makin;;  any  invidious 
ohservation  to  tlie  Ami'rican  puhlie  al)()ut  the  pru/nt yacie 
similitude  between  Washin<^ton  and  RieFs  career. 

Both  were  ai)(>stles  of  human  riu^hts !  15oth  were 
arrayed  aijainst  the  same  secular  arhitrarism  I  Both 
fought  the  same  implaeahle  despotism  I 

But  here  the  sinn'litude  ceases  I     And  why  i 

Ueeause  Washiuirton  fought  and  eon(|Ucred  with  the 
help  of  Frenchmen  I 

And  because  Kiel  succumbed,  and  was  defeated  by 
the  help  of  an  American  Administration  ! 

IIf>w  consolinii-  to  be  able  to  loifically  remark :  That 
governments  are  invariably  responsible  to  the  people,  but 
that  the  people  are  not  invariably  responsible  for  their 
government  ? 


1     ^ 
J 


In  the  pi-esence  of  a  freshly  sealed  cofhn,  words  of 
bitterness,  to  be  sure,  are  out  of  place.  But  I  beg  to  ask 
you,  Americans,  when  you  were  struggling  for  existence  ; 
when,  later  on,  ])iratical  expeditions  were  organized  and 
h'uinched  from  the  Canadian  frontier  (with  the  knowledge 
of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  who  was  then,  as  he  is  now, 
the  Premier  of  the  Canadian  C'abinet)  against  jicaceable 
American  villages;  when  you  called  to  arms,  not  alone 
your  native-born  citizejis,  but  all  mankind,  in  the  defence 


4     g 


-ft  — 


of  tlio  prandost   political  iiiKtitntioiis  known  to   ancient 
and  Hiodcrn  times,  who  ans\vert'(l  your  cry  of  alarm? 

Assuredly  not  the  men  represente*!  hy  the  party  in 
power  at  Ottawa,  to  whom  [^resident  Cleveland  has  so 
courteously  given  the  right  of  way  on  Anieriean  soil,  for 
the  transportation  of  arms  and  ammunition,  in  order  to 
enahle  the  bitterest  enemies  of  the  United  States  to  anni- 
hilate tlie  Half  breeds  who  were  following  in  the  foot- 
steps of  your  forefathers  I 

To  one  misguided  Orangeman,  or,  better,  to  one 
strayed  Tory  disciple  of  Sir  John  A.  J\IacDonald — who 
was  omnipotent  at  Ottawa  then  as  he  is  to-day — that 
fought  for  the  preservation  of  this  glorious  Kepublic, 
thousands  of  sympathetic  French  Canadians  can  be  named, 
who  noblv  and  disinterestedly  upheld  the  Ha<j:.  The 
conflict  made  tombs  in  our  nationality,  and  we  are  proud  of 
it.  Your  final  success  threw  dismay  in  tlie  otMcial  circles 
at  Ottawa,  as  well  as  in  the  ranks  of  Orangeism  ;  but  an 
American  Administration  has  just  been  found  to  assuage 
Toryism  bitter  disappointment  by  making  amends  for  all 
that ! 

■X- 


"What  is  all  the  trouble  about  ?  Let  us  take  a  retro- 
spective view  of  tlie  matter. 

The  French  Canadians  discovered  and  settled  the 
country  they  live  in.  Embroiled  in  a  struggle  not  of 
their  seeking,  and  over  which  they  had  no  control,  they 


i 


t 


—  i 


wore  slmiHcfullv  abandoned  and  tinally  Bacrilu'od  to  the 
siMisnal  |»roclivitie^  nl"  :i  kinir  v'lio  l:;"l  !M'M7>  Iovo  for  tho 
p»\vn  of  a  conrtr/aii  lliaii  foi-  ilir  ll;!n-  of  IVaiicn'.  Not- 
witlistandiiiij:,  tliuy  sccnivd,  iir>t  l>y  treaty,  and  coni- 
polk'd,  lat(M-  on,  tliroui;li  legislation,  the  ^rantinn'  of  all 
those  rii,dits  which  Kiel  and  hi-  IIalf-l>reed  brothers 
^^ou^dlt  to  revendicate,  bocaus«'  thes-  had  been  systeniaticully 
trampled  upon  by  the  Ottawa  Cabinet. 

The  Half-breeds  are  the  descendants  of  those  hardy 
French  Canadian  pioneers,  wliose  love  of  travel  and 
discovery,  took  them  into  the  wild  praii'ies  of  t\w  North- 
w«>t,  where  they  tinally  settled  into  a  semi-liuntin^  and 
Kemi-a<;ricultural  life — following,  in  this  last  occupation, 
the  customs  and  the  idiosyncracies  of  their  ancestors,  who 
had  made  a  garden  of  both  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

These  Ilalf-brecds  belonic  to  that  race  of  eiiert^etic 
men  who  were  the  first  settlers  of  the  AV^estern  States, 
at  a  time  when  colonizinor  in  those  wild  prairies  meant 
something  more  than  breaking  the  ground  and  raising  a 
crop  for  shipment  to  Eastern  ])orts  ;  moreover,  they  are 
the  kindred  of  these  courageous  pioneers  who  have  either 
christened  or  given  their  own  names  to  the  most  impor- 
tant cities  of  the  West. 

They  are  acknowledged  to  be  a  hospitable,  mild,  peace- 
able and  law-abiding  people.  Selfishness  is  unknown  to 
their  vocabulary;  with  them,  faithfulness,  providency 
and  thrift  are  heirlooms  which  have  never  been  bartered 
by  the  humblest  of  the  race. 


8  — 


liike  the  Freiicli  Caiiiuliiins,  they  were  settled  njxMi  a 
soil  W'liich  their  aiicestorw  had  discovered  and  fertilized 
with  tlie  sweat  of  their  i)rows.  Like  voiirHelves,  foreign  to 
all  sentinieiitH  of  iealouHv,  thev  invited  all  nieii  of  u;ood- 
will  to  setth;  in  their  iiiid^t,  with  the  moral  and  legisla- 
tive guarantee  that  uj)ri^htnesy,  irrespective  of  ereed  or 
nationality,  was  all  that  tlie  State  sought  for;  and,  morally 
and  oonstitutionally,  the  State  has  no  husiness  nor  li^ht  to 
Reek  for  anvthin<;  else. 

When  we,  Freneh  ('anadians,  sent  out  such  a  generous 
and  untrammelled  invitation,  we  did  not  expeet,  nor  did 
we  have  in  view,  to  borrow  the  prejudices,  the  intolerance 
and  the  rancors  of  past  ages.  This  vast  continent  has 
no  room  for  such  east-off  clothes. 

But,  what  did  w(!  get  in  return,  for  our  broad  and 
generous  hospitality? 

An  arrogant  and  dictatorial  oligarchy,  bent  on  pervert- 
ing the  sacred  aims  of  justice  and  legislation.  And  who, 
with  the  view  of  making  itself  omni])otent,  transj)lanted 
to  our  virgin  soil,  hatred  as  i-c])ulslve  as  it  was  unnatural; 
excited,  between  co-existing  races,  national  animosity; 
concocted  intolerance  of  creeds,  and  tinallv,  to  crown  its 
diabolical  monument  of  infamy,  exacted  the  head  of  a  son 
of  the  soil  who  had  had  the  temerity  to  jjrotect,  against 
oft-admitted  unjustifiable  spoliation,  the  roofs  that  shelter- 
ed his  countrymen  and  his  own  family. 


i 


•X-         * 


I 


I 

•I 


—  ft  — 

Tlioso  are  tlio  mm  to  whoni — wln'ii  oii  the  ('V<>  of 
rcopiviiij;  a  wcll-iiieriti'd  ciisti^atioti  for  all  tluMi*  misdeiMls 
— an  Ami'rii'aii  Administration  lias«^iv('ii  aid  and  comfort. 

All  fair  miiidiMl  people  a('kiio\vledn(>  tliat  States, 
like  individuals,  owe  each  otlu-r  a  p»odl_v  amount  of 
courtesy  in  their  intercourse;  hut,  I  have  vet  to  learn, 
that  the  footpa<l  has  any  claim  in  his  criminal  undertak- 
ing, upon  the  assistance  of  the  respectahly  disposed,  or 
that  a  government  that  has  put  itself  heyond  the  i)alc  of 
civilization  —  as  the  Canadian  (lovernement  did  hy 
luring  and  then  defraudin*]^  the  Ilalf-hreeds  of  their 
Icfi^itimatc  inheritance— has  any  claim  in  its  nefarious 
and  san<^uinarv  policy  upon  the  courtesy  of  a  ;;overnment 
or  of  a  people  which  it  has  done  its  utmost  to  destroy  at 
the  nu)st  critical  time  in  its  history. 

I  am  somewhat  inclined  t(>  think  that,  in  this  instau'-e, 
the  ^ood  faith  of  the  American  Administration  has  been 
sur])rised  ;  hut  it  is  as  well  that,  in  case  of  possible  future 
emergencies,  tlic  situation  should  he  elucidated,  in  order 
to  avoid  a  repetition  of  any  sucli  intemperate  awkward- 
ness on  the  2)art  of  the  Executive. 


*         Mr 


My  American  readers  will  readily  understand  why  I 
have  thought  proper  to  publish  Tnic  TinTn  About  Rikl. 
It  will  be  a  revelation  to  many,  who  could  not,  on  account 
of  the  system  of  misrepreseuiationsand  calumnies  inaugu- 


■■f 


—  10 


rated  by  the  (■anadiaii  Cabinet,  and  circulated  broadcast 
by  its  paid  agents,  form  a  candid  ouinion  upon  the  merit 
of  the  (juestion  at  issue  ; — I  say  at  issue  advisedly,  because 
the  question  of  the  status  of  the  IJalf-breeds  in  Manitoba 


and  the  Saskatchewi 


fai-  f 


roni  bein<r  settled.     So  far 


the  oidv  tliino-  s-ett/ed,  ns  it  were,  is  the  future  of  Sir  riohn 

I/O 

A.  MacDonald's  Cabinet. 

lie  tliat  as  it  may,  1  will  consider  myself  amply  repaid 
for  all  trouble,  if  throu<!;]i  my  instrumentality  the  truth  is 
known  about  a  race  who  has  been  umnercifuUv  calum- 
niated  after  having  been  mercilessly  persecuted  ;  about  a 
chivalrous  leader  who  was  immolated  on  the  scallold  in 
order  to  satisfv  the  insatiable  cravin<i:s  for  blood  of  an 
Order  which  has  been,  from  its  incipiency.  a  blot  upon 
civilization  and  a  putrefactious  sore  upon  mankind — 
an  immolation  which  was  accomjdished  in  spite  of  the 
indignant  clamor  of  every  being  imbued  with  conscience, 
justice  and  uprightness. 


*        •X- 


To  my  Canadian  friends  of  all  originf^ : 

A  word  of  supplication  ! 

An  unjustifiable  outrage  has  been  committed  upon  a 
whole  race.  ]t  behooves  all  good  and  well-thinking  men, 
irrespective  of  origin  or  creed,  to  band  together,  and  see 
hat  justice  is  done. 


S 


f 


11  — 


The  disp^ract-  bears  equally  upon  all,  hence  the  neces- 
sity of  a  combined  effort  to  wipe  out  the  stain. 

Kiel  and  the  Jlalf-breeds  did  not  rebel  against  the 
established  institutions  of  the  country  while  those  insti- 
tutions were  lojjjallv  and  iustlv  administered,  (loaded 
and  famished,  they  rebelled  against  a  set  of  unscrupulous 
jobbers  and  thieves,  who  were  administering  the  country 
for  their  own  personal  benefit  and  for  the  benefit  of  their 
minions,  with  whom  they  divided  the  spoils. 

Sir  John's  Cabinet  and  his  satellites  have  done  more 
by  omission  and  commission  to  bring  into  contempt  your 
institutions,  than  any  well-regulated  Orange  lodge  has 
ever  done  to  break  the  peace  in  your  very  midst. 

To  wipe  out  the  stain,  to  avert  and  put  at  naught  all 
possibilities  of  direful  comi)licati<)ns,  the  ill-omened 
thirteen  Ministers  must  be  hurled  from  the  responsible 
positions  which  they  have  betrayed  so  shamefully. 

Your  country  is  exceptionally  situated.  It  cannot  pros- 
per and  it  cannot  march  onward  in  the  path  of  progress, 
with  men  at  its  head,  who,  derelict  to  well-understood 
conservatism,  single  out  a  race  and  a  creed,  and  offer 
it  as  a  holocaust  to  its  strorn  eneinij ! 

Such  men  have  incapacitated  themselves  for  any 
position  of  trust,  or  of  responsibility,  in  a  country  situated 
and  populated  like  yours. 

They  are  a  constant  danger,  an  imi)ending  menace  I 

Already,  two   of  them,   realizing  the    depth    of    the 

abyss  they  had  dug  for  all  their  future  political  aspira- 


—  12  — 

tions,  have  iittenipted  extra-piirliaiiientary  explanations, 
^rntisni  before,  verbosity  after,  the  deed  I 
Men  of  that  calibre  should  not  be  kicked  out,  shoviuf^ 

is  good  enough  for  them. 

But  all  honest  men  must  see  that  it  is  done. 


* 
*      * 


To  the  French  Cdnadians : 

What  must  be  said  of  the  three  French  Canadian 
Ministers  wiio  are  named  Langeiyin,  Caron^  Chapleau? 

The  two  first    wear  the   English  liverv,  they   were 

made  baronets;  and  the  last what  a  place  in  such  a 

trio  for  the  bearer  of  the  French  cross  of  the  Leijion  of 
Honor  ! 

AVhat  a  touching  spectacle,  that  of  Chapleau,  wearing 
the  French  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  wliile  signing 
the  death-warrant  of  his  countryman  Riel  —  a  death- 
warrant  which  was  exacted  from  him  by  Orangemen,  the 
deadly  enemies  of  his  race! 

Decorated — alas !  like  too  many  others — through  pure 
complacency,  Chapleau  inw-ardly  felt  the  necessity  of 
accomplishing  some  kliul  of  remarkable  deed  in  order  to 
justify  his  sponsors  for  having  put  his  name  forward  for 
the  decoration. 

How  pleasant  will  be  the  surprise  of  those  sponsors, 
on  meeting  their  protege,  to  lind  him  wearing  another 


f 


-i 
i 

h 


—  18  — 


i 


trinket  at  his  biittoTiholc,  a  fringed  piece  of  the  rope 
that  strangled  his  eoiintryman  Kiel!  There's  luck  in  the 
hangman's  rope!  However,  Chapleau  can  justify  of  this 
second  decoration  in  nxjre  than  one  way  :  He  was  the 
signer  of  the  death-warrant,  and  his  brother  was  the  ex- 
ecutioner!  This  is  rather  too  much  honor  for  cue  single 
family  I 

If  this  was  not  already  too  disgusting,  mattei*s  could  still 
be  flavored  in  that  respect,  by  hoisting  the  elder  Chapleau 
by  one  notch  in  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  by  pinning  a 
rosette  to  the  lappel  of  tlie  younger  brother's  coat! 

Or,  better  still,  Chapleau  might  be  struck  from  the 
roll  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  which  was  not  founded, 
that  I  am  aware,  to  reward  and  encourage  Fi'ench 
traitors ! 

But,  this  is  not  exactly  the  place  nor  the  time  for 
snch  recriminations.  Therefore,  I  will  leave  to  patriotic 
French  journalists  the  task  of  re(juesting  from  the  proper 
authority  a  categorical  explanation  about  all  this  dirty 
linen.  Li  so  far  as  the  French  Canadians  are  concerned,  if 
no  better  judgment  is  shown  in  the  distribntion  of  the 
distinctions  of  the  French  Legion  of  IJonorin  our  country, 
we  will  be  forced  to  the  unavoidable  conclusion  that  an 
attempt  is  on  foot  to  make  that  Order  a  rival  of  the 
celebrated  Rogues'  Gallerv  of  Xew  York  ! 


—  U  — 


"  Close- the-ranks,"  must  be  your  watch-word.  In  order 
to  present  a  solid  front,  former  political  divisions  must  be 
set  aside  in  the  presence  of  your  arrogant,  persistent  and 
unscrupulous  foe. 

The  organisation  of  your  forces  must  be  thorough  and 
permanent.  Your  enemies  have  declared  already,  with  a 
contemptuous  smile,  that  a  pittance  thrown  to  the  Pro- 
vince of  Quebec  by  the  Ottawa  Government,  will  smother 
your  indignation. 

Your  programme  mast  be — 

First. — Constitutional  agitation  must  not  cease  until 
you  have  relegated  to  oblivion  the  ministerial  miscreants 
who  are  responsible  for  all  the  mischief. 

Second. — The  Half-breeds  must  be  reinstated  in  the 
lands  of  which  they  have  b'3en  despoiled,  and  indemnified 
just  hke  the  sufferers  of  1837-38. 

Third. — The  Orange  Order,  which  is  a  menace  not 
only  to  your  faith,  your  tongue  and  your  nationality,  but 
which  is  a  menace  to  law  and  order,  which  is  incompatible 
with  the  ordinary  decency  of  any  well  governed  com- 
munity, nmst  be  made  to  understand  that  it  has  to  stand 
back.  Your  only  guarantee  is  to  have  laws  enacted 
disqualifying  its  votaries  from  the  franchise  and  from 
holding  any  official  position  under 

Ist.  Your  local  government ; 

2d.    Your  municipal  system,  and 

3d.   In  the  Federal  government. 

Communities  have  the  inherent   right   of   enacting 


ii 


15 


laws  for  their  protection.  Dogs'  ferocity  is  the  subject 
of  salutary  enfictinents  by  all  niuuicipal  bodies,  why 
should  not  Orange  madness  be  placed  on  the  same  plane? 

If,  through  constitutional  agitation,  you  cannot  secure 
these  safeguards  oi"  their  full  equivalent,  you  have  no 
riglit  to  remain  in  the  Federation  of  the  Provinces. 

Your  enemies,  emboldened  by  this  fresh  triumph,  will 
not  only  continue  their  work  of  ])ersecution,  and  make 
you  lead  a  life  of  abjection,  but  they  will,  in  the  course 
of  a  very  t^hort  time,  legislate  your  race  into  insigniiicance 
and  complete  dependence. 

Gratitude  witli  them  is  an  unknown  quantity.  Look 
at  the  treatment  you  have  met  at  the  hands  of  Sir  John 
A.  MacDonald,  after  more  than  thirty  years  of  unstinted 
support  from  tlu^  Fren(;h  Conservative  element  of  your 
population,  to  which  lie  owes  everything,  even  the  oppor- 
tunity of  betraying  you  ! 

No,  either  through  persuasiveness  or  compromise,  you 
have  nothing  to  expect  from  that  quarter.  The  time  of 
temporizing  is  past;  that  of  exacting  has  come  I  And 
you  must  exact  with  tirmness  and  dignity  ;  but,  be  on 
your  guard,  hecause  you  are  dealing  with  a  cunning  and 
cowardly  foe. 

•X-        * 

If  you  show  determination  and  firmness  the  perpe- 
trators of  the  atrocities  in  Manitoba  and  the  Saskatche- 
wan ;  the  builders  of  the  Regina  gibbet,  will  meet  their 


—  u;  — 


'I 


deserts;  you  will  l)e  coii>i(lere(l ;  you  will  enjoy,  un- 
molested, the  rewurd  of  patriotism,  the  fruits  of  your 
labor,  and  transmit,  to  your  children,  unimpaired  and 
unscathed,  the  inheritance  left  you  by  your  valorous 
fathers  :  A  free  and  liberty-loving  country,  where  peace 
ami  happiness  dwelleth. 

You  have  not  only  the  sympathies  of  the  civilized 
world,  hut  potential  civilizing  elements  aide  with  you^ 
and  will  give  you  comfort  in  your  time  of  need. 

"  Do  vour  dutv,  and  fear  not!  " 

One  of  yours, 


Napoleon  Thompson. 


I 


New  York,  January,  1886. 


M,   un- 
of  your 
•ed   and 
valorous 
'e  peace 

ivilized 


THE 


•N. 


TROTH  ABODT  KIEL, 


THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  KIEL. 


I. 


A  ^rcat  many  people,  imperfectly  ac(|naiiited  with 
what  they  were  talking  or  writing  about,  have  freely  ex- 
pressed opinions  regarding  Kicr.s  fate. 

It  would  be  difficult,  almost  .nipossible  indeed,  for 
any  one  who  has  not  been  closely  connected  with  what 
took  place  in  the  North- western  territory,  to  see  clearly 
into  the  intricate  state  of  affaii-s  that  lui,s  c<jnvulsed  that 
portion  of  British  America  since  the  Metis'  outbreak ; 
which  had  its  prologue  in  18G9,  and  its  epilogue  in  1885, 
in  the  hanging  of  Kiel,  the  recognized  leader  of  tbe  French 
Half-breeds. 

In  order  to  satisfy  my  readers  that  I  have  some  right 
to  express  my  opinion  on  this  gloomy  subject,  I  will 
remark  that  I  liave  lived  in  the  North-west  from  1809  to 
1874,  and  through  the  official  position  I  then  occupied  in 
that  country,  under  the  Canadian  Government,  I  was 
directly  connected  with  almost  everything  that  took 
place  in  Manitoba  during  that  period  of  iive  years,     I. 


go  as  far  as  to  say  that  (luring  tliat  tiiiio  I  was  often  called 
upon  to  f^ive,  in  an  official  capacity,  my  views  on  some 
very  inipoi-tant  administrative  cpiestions;  and,  as  what 
follows  is  «»nly  an  exact  and  impartial  nari'ation  of  facts, 
completely  devoid  of  any  personal  preference  or  feeling, 
I  think  the  honesty  of  purpose  which  j)rom])ts  me  to 
write  this  hook  will  not  he  douhted. 

I  have  heard  and  seen  all  I  am  ahout  to  relate.  1 
have  taken  part  in  many  of  the  events  herein  narrated, 
and  I  leave  to  the  world  the  task  of  forming  a  judgment 
upon  the  course  pursued  hy  the  Ministers  of  the  Domin- 
ion Government  in  their  policy  regarding  the  French 
Half-hreeds,  and  to  decide  if  the  Canadian  Ministers  are 
or  are  not  responsible,  not  only  for  the  unjust  and  bar- 
barous execution  of  the  Half-breed  Louis  David  Kiel, 
but  also  for  the  criminal  inertness  that  has  caused  it. 

CAN  RIEL  BE  CHARGED  WITH  REBELLION  ? 


There  cannot  be  the  least  doubt  that  Kiel  has  been 
a  continual  source  of  annoyance  and  anxiety  to  the  Do- 
minion Cabinet,  since  18G9,  but  was  he  to  blame  for  that  i 
Was  he  an  inveterate  and  systematic  revolutionist,  or  a 
man  who,  conscious  of  his  rights  as  a  British  subject  and 
a  free  human  being,  would  not  allow  himself  and  his 
countrymen  to  be  unmercifully  trampled  upon  by  the 
iron  heel  of  the  Canadian  rulers  ? 

Was  his  death  on  the  scaffold,  erected  by  the  order  of 


—  21  — 

Sir  John  A.  M.icDoiiaUl  ;iiul  liis  ( •;il)iiu?r,  a  doscrvod  and 
just  expiation,  or  was  it  a  crime  coldly  |)repared  and 
|)er))otrated  to  yerve  pcrsoind  atid  political  )>urpo9e8'< 

Without  pretending  to  ini|)ose  my  opinion  about  this 
higuljrious  affair,  n(»r  expecting  to  change  the  face  of 
things  in  Canada,  tlie  pul)lication  of  what  I  know,  will, 
nevertheless,  I  most  sincerely  hope,  thnnv  a  diiferent  and 
a  new  light  on  the  events  that  have  taken  place  in 
Manitoba  and  in  the  Saskatchewan  from  180S  to  l!S85. 

*      HOW  WERE  THE  METIS    TREATED  FOR  YEARS? 


The  Metis  have  indeed  been  an  ill-fated  race  for 
many  years.  For  a  long  time  before  the  purchase,  in  1800, 
of  the  territorial  rights,  by  the  Canadian  Government, 
from  the  Company  of  Adventurers  of  England  (better 
known  as  the  Hudson  Bay  Company),  they  were  the 
direct  means  of  the  making  of  that  immense  and  incal- 
culable fortune  which  placed  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
at  the  head  of  the  most  powerful  corporations  in  existence. 

Hunting  and  trapping  was  their  only  resource.  The 
stores  of  the  numerous  i)osts  of  tii<^  Company  were  at  all 
times  overtlowing  with  valuable  skins  brought  in  by  the 
Half-breeds.  The  rich  furs  of  every  description  were 
bought  by  the  Company's  officers  at  ridiculously  low  prices  ; 
the  trading  scheme  was  carried  on  in  a  most  lively  man- 
ner :  a  bank-note,  a  few  pounds  of  Hour  or  salt  pork,  a  small 
keg  of  gunpowder  and  shot,  a  common  suit  of  clothes 


—  22- 


or  an  iiicoiiiplctfi  outfit  could  nenire  a  quantity  of  valuable 
BkiuH  worth  one  hundred  tinicH  the  tritlin^  cost  of  the 
articlcH  given  in  exchange,  and  the  ILudnon  \^\\y  Com- 
pany waH  able  to  supply  yearly  all  the  European  markets 
with  immenHc  (piantities  of  furs  thuH  bartered  from  tho 
poor  vi(^timized  Metiw. 

ThiK,  takeu  in  a  certain  light,  was, of  course,  very  natural 
and  nothing  more  nor  lens  than  a  straight  business  trans- 
action. IJut  when  that  wide  and  rich  country  became 
exhausted,  when  the  buffalo  had  almost  completely  disap- 
peared, when  the  otter,  marten,  beaver,  ermine  and  all 
the  other  fur-bearing  animals  of  its  regions  were  becom- 
ing scarcer  every  year,  th" Hudson  Bay  Company's  authori- 
ties thought  of  ridding  themselves  of  their  no  longer 
valuable  possessions  by  soiling  their  territorial  rights  to  the 
Canadian  Government,  and  the  transfer  was  accomplish- 
ed without  the  kno  .vledge  of  the  Metis. 

They  were  only  Half-breeds  after  all!  Why  should 
the  (lovernment  or  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  take  the 
trouble  of  a])prising  them  that  they  had  been  sold  and 
bought  like  live-stock!? 

But  this  simple,  inoffensive  and  peaceful  people 
understood  that  no  Crovernment,  no  power  on  earth  had 
the  right  to  buy  a  population  composed  of  Christians 
like  a  lot  of  living  beasts  !  They  instinctively  saw  danger 
for  their  homes,  their  wives  and  children  in  that  arbitrary 
Canadian  invasion ;  they  perceived  that  their  rights,  as 
men  living  on   free    American  soil,  had  been  ignored 


—  2;j  — 

and  vi()liitt'(l.  Kid,  wIiohc  uduciitioti  and  natural  intelli- 
gence liad  placed  liini  foremost  anion^  IiIh  lellow-country- 
men,  was  chosen  as  their  leader,  and  the  entire  MetiH 
population  took  up  arms  to  prevent  the  ('anadian 
Government  from  entering;  the  country. 

Mr.  Mcl)ou<^all,  tlie  first  I.ieutenant-(J<jvernor  ap- 
pointed hy  the  Dominion  Cabinet,  was  stopped  with  hi« 
staff  at  Pemhina,  and  was  obliged  to  retreat  and  return  to 
Ottawa  without  even  seeing  the  seat  of  his  government. 

Was  Kiel  a  rebel  then  ^  If  so,  it  must  be  confessed 
that  his  rel)ellion  had  a  noble  and  i^enerous  aim  :  that  of 
defending  tlie  land  of  liis  birth  against  an  unwarranted 
invasion  ;  of  protecting  his  countrymen,  his  sister  and 
mother,  nay  his  father's  grave,  against  an  arrogant  enemy  ! 

THE  PROVISIONAL    GOVERNMENT. 

A  Provisional  (Tovernment  was  formed  by  the  llalf- 
breeds  and  took  its  seat  at  Fort  Garry.  Kiel  was 
unanimously  elected  President.  Kes(jlutions  were  pasvsed, 
engrossed  and  presented  to  the  Canadian  Cabinet.  These 
lieeolntions  did  not  received  the  least  attention. 

THE  RED  RIVER  EXPEDITION. 


By  this  time  the  Cabinet  of  the  Dominion  plainly 
saw   that  something  had   to   be  done.     An    expedition 


_  24  — 


i 


was  decided  upon,  and  four  thousand  men  were  soon 
ready  to  start  for  Manitoba. 

The  exj)editionary  corps  was  com])osed  of  a  regiment 
of  regulars,  a  battalion  of  Quebec  rifles,  a  battalion 
of  Ontario  rifles,  a  sufficient  number  of  engineers,  and 
a  complete  commissariat. 

Colonel  \yolseley,  afterwards  Sir  Garnet  AVolseley, 
and  now  Lord  AVolseley,  was  api)ointed  Commander  in 
Chief  01  that  military  picnic,  which  was  called  the  Red 
River  Expedition.  After  making  a  considerable  number 
of  portages  and  running  numerous  rapides  he  landed  in 
Winnipeg  with  his  troops  at  the  end  of  August,  1870. 

Riel  and  his  followers  had  left  Foit  Garry  and  the 
British  territory  before  the  gallant  ColoneFs  arrival, 
probably  because  they  felt  that  their  cause  was  a  lost  one, 
or,  perhaps,  because  the  young  leader  recoiled  at  the  idea 
of  exposing  his  country  and  his  people  to  the  hoi'rors  of 
a  long  and  bloody  civil  war.  However,  Colonel  Wolseley 
found  that  Fort  Garry  had  been  abandoned  by  the  Metis, 
and  the  first  thing  he  did  after  arriving  in  Manitoba 
was  to  issue  a  ])roclamation,  apprising  the  population  of 
the  Pro\  ince  that  he  intended  to  deal  unmercifully  with 
the  banditti  {sic)  who  had  dared  to  j'csist  the  authority  of 
his  Gracious  Sovereign,  the  Queen  of  England. 

And  thus  ended  the  Red  River  Expedition,  which 
cost  several  millions  of  dollars  to  the  Government  that 
ordered  it.  But,  of  course,  for  the  accomplishment  of  so 
glorious  an  undertaking  money  was  no  object !  Wei*e  not 


—  25  — 

rlic  good  Canadians  rich  enongh  to  pay,  without  nmr- 
nmring,  for  what  has  since  proved  to  be  a  sinister 
i)hinder  ^  Taxes  came  in  more  reijularlv  than  ever.  It 
was  the  people's  money  that  was  paying  for  the  fun,  and, 
most  painful  to  say,  French  Canadians  were  made  to 
help  with  their  money  a  militaiy  expedition  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  pitilessly  oppressing  their  Half-breed 
brothers  iti  Manitoba. 

These  heroic  Ilalf-bre<}ds,  these  simple  but  honest 
sons  of  the  wild  ])i'airies,  who  had  formed  a  defen- 
sive alliance  in  order  to  protect  their  country,  their 
wives  and  children,  their  own  blood  in  fact,  were  called 
"  banditti ''  by  the  representative  of  the  very  govern- 
ment that  had  bouglit  them  as  the  planters  of  yore 
bought  a  plantation  with  all  the  human  liesh  on  it ! 

ON  TO  THEM !     KILL   THEM  ! 

And  here  are  the  wonderful  arguments  put  forward 
by  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  and  his  Cabinet : 

These  contemptible  half  savages,  who  knew  nothing 
l)ut  to  hunt,  and  whose  too  slavish  hands  had  been  for 
years  the  gigantic  and  inexhaustible  cornucopia  thatfdled 
the  large  and  numberless  coffers  of  a  company  of  adven- 
turers from  England,  had  had  tiie  audacity  to  protest  like 
men  against  the  violation  of  their  so-called  rights  I 

These  ignorant  half  Indians,  these  French  Metis,  as 
they  called  themselves,  who  could  but  fervently  pray  to 


J. 


2r, 


their  God,  tenderly  love  their  families,  and  live  without 
ever  thinkinij;  of  doing  anj  harm  to  their  neighbors,  had 
dared  to  reject  the  protectorate  of  a  government  which., 
after  their  subniission,  would  be  only  too  willing  to  throw 
to  them  a  small  piece  of  land,  like  a  bone  to  a  famished 
dog! 

They  were  only  despicable  human  beings  after  all, 
and  they  had  the  impudence  to  reject  this  opportunity  of 
being  blessed  by  the  contact  of  an  iron-handed  civilization  ! 

What  a  monstrosity ! 

No  pity  for  them ! 

Christ  died  for  all  and  every  man :  what  of  it  ? 
They  were  made  in  the  image  of  their  Savior,  it  is  true, 
])ut  they  were  only  ignorant  beasts  ! 

Bring  them  to  submission,  not  by  kind  words  or  per- 
suasion, but  by  force  ;  they  must  bend  or  break ! 

On  to  them  !  Shoot  them  down  like  wild  and  fero- 
cious animals  !     Kill  them! 

And  after  the  bloody  work  of  civilization  is  done,  if 
some  of  the  remaining  miscreants  dare  to  refuse  homage 
to  our  benevolent  Sovereign,  a  few  planks,  a  rope,  and 
the  sheriif  will  do  the  rest ! 

A   PAMPHLET. 


A  few  months  before  the  Red  Kiver  Expedition  was 
organized,  a  much  to  be  regretted  occurrence  took  place 
in  the  Province  of  Quebec. 


Ills   (".HACK    M(;R.    All  XANI'KK   Amonin    TA(  hk 


—  27  — 


rAC  HK. 


The  Iliglit  Reverend  Alexander  Tuehe,  then  Bishop 
of  St.  Boniface  (Manitoba),  and  since  elevated  to  the 
archbishopric,  published  a  pamphlet  in  which  he  strongly 
advised  the  young  French  Canadians  not  to  take  any 
active  part  in  the  projected  campaign :  The  soil  of 
Manitoba  was  a  poor  one,  ottering  but  little  chance  for 
imj)rovement,  the  rebellion  had  not  a  serious  character, 
and  all  the  trouble  would  soon  end,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

This  pamphlet,  containing  such  or  similar  advice, 
emanating  from  a  most  and  justly  venerated  prelate,  was 
freely  distributed  among  French  Canadians,  and  mostly 
all  of  the  Catholic  priests,  in  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
preached  and  recommended  to  their  parishioners  the  ad- 
visability of  following  the  worthy  Bishop's  counsel. 

The  effect  of  the  pamphlet  can  easily  be  imagined. 
When  the  recruiting  of  the  two  l)attalions  of  volunteers 
began,  a  comparatively  small  numl)er  of  French  Cana- 
dians were  enlisted.  These  battalions^  each  about  COO 
strong  (1,200  in  all),  did  not  count  in  their  ranks,  when 
formed,  over  150  French  Canadians,  that  is  to  say,  eighty- 
eight  percent,  of  the  elfective  volunteer  force  were  Fng- 
-lish  Canadians,  mostly  from  Ontario. 

Each  and  every  one  of  these  men  was  to  receive,  as 
comj)ensation,  1(50  acres  of  land,  after  the  expiration  of 
his  military  term,  and  ninety  per  cent,  of  them  settled 
in  Manitoba.  Thus  the  British  element  dominated  in 
the  Province  after  its  submission,  and  it  has  been  so  evei' 
since  1870. 


—  28  — 

It  is  not  in  the  least  probable  that  Archbishoj)  Tache 
ever  thought  for  an  instant  that  his  pamphlet  would 
liave  such  a  lamentable  effeet  against  his  o'vn  people, 
and  far  from  me  any  idea  of  blame  or  reproach  for  the 
venerable  Bishop's  action.  I  sincerely  believe  it  was 
dictated  to  him  by  a  commendable  ccmviction,  but  one 
thing  is  certain,  indisputable  :  Manitoba  and  ths  Sas- 
katchewan have  been  from  the  start,  are  yet,  and  will 
remain  under  the  complete  control  of  Canadians  of 
English  origin,  and  that  portion  of  the  Dominion  is  lost 
foi"  ever  to  the  French  Canadian  supremacy. 

Here  comes  naturally  two  questions  which  would  be 
very  hard  to  answer,  but  offering,  nevertheless,  a  wide 
field  for  reflection :  Had  the  Province  of  Manitoba  been 
ruled  by  a  strong  majority  of  the  French  Canadian 
element,  would  the  last  insurrection  have  taken  place '^ 
And,  if  it  had  taken  place,  would  Rlel  have  mounted  the 
scaffold  at  Regina  ? 

I  leave  to  the  intelligence  of  the  eminent  and  patriotic 
French  Canadian  politicians  the  care  of  meditating  over 
these  questions,  and  of  finding  a  plausible  solution  to 
them. 

THOMAS  SCOTT. 


The  execution  of  Thonuis  Scott,  ordered  in  1860  by 
the  Provisioiuil  Government  of  Manitoba,  has  been  the 
chief  accusation  brought  against  Riel  by  Upper  Canada. 


2P 


Scott  wa8  an  Orangeman,  and  his  co-rcligionists  havp 
found  in  liis  execution  inexhaustible  food  for  their  liatred 
against  French  (Canadians,  or  anything  that  is  Catholic. 
Tlie  merciless  pressure  tliey  have  exercised  over  Sir  John 
A.  IVlacDonaid,  previous  to  Kiel's  execution,  is  convincing 
evidence  that  the  faiuiticism  and  bigotry  so  bitterly  re- 
proached to  Catholics  in  Canada,  are  far  more  intense 
among  Orangemen,  who  have  never  as  yet  lost  an  occasion 
to  manifest  it  loudly  ! 

SELF-DEFENCE. 


Thomas  Scott  was  far  from  being  the  good  natureii 
sort  of  a  fellow  his  Oranjje  friends  have  tried  to  make 
believe.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  a  rough  character.  He 
had  treatened  Kiel's  life  on  several  occasions  and  he  was 
certaiidy  know^n  as  capable  of  carrying  his  threats  into 
execution.  I  know  as  a  j)ositive  fact  that  Kiel  himself 
was  opposed  to  Scott's  execution,  even  after  the  sentence 
had  been  pronounced.  I  know  also  that  he  tried  his 
utmost  to  save  him,  but  his  int(  rvention  was  accorded 
no  attention  bv  his  followers. 

All  those  who  knew  Scott  well  (and  I  have  been 
brought  into  contact  with  many  of  them)  agree  in  saying 
that  Kiel's  life  was  in  immediate  danger  so  long  as  Scott 
was  allowed  to  go  free  around  the  country. 

This  case  was  one  of  self-defence,  nothing  else. 


r>o  — 


'^ 


Tlic  probabilities  are  that  I  will  never  go  l)ack  to 
Canada.  I  expect  no  favor  whatever  from  any  })arty  or 
parties.  I  have  no  more  prefereiHiC  for  the  French 
Canadians  tlian  for  English  Canadians.  I  ^liall  certainly 
never  ask  for  anything  from  a  Canadian  source.  My 
religions  sentiments  are  of  no  conseqnence  in  this  matter. 
I  am  not  writing  this  in  order  to  win  or  obtain  the  good 
will  of  certain  peo])le.  1  care  not  if  my  opinion  is  shared 
or  endorsed  l)y  ten  men  or  ten  thousand  men.  A  bloody 
deed  has  been  accomplished.  I  know  all  or  nearly  all  the 
parties  that  have  been  directly  or  indirectly  connected 
with  it,  and  what  comes  from  my  pen  is  dictated  to  me 
by  my  own  conscience,  and  by  my  own  conscience  only.  I 
write  all  I  know  and  express  the  opinion  I  have  formed 
after  having  heard  and  seen. 

Public  opinion,  humanity  and  the  Christian  world  will 
judge  which  of  the  two  men  is  the  greatest  murderer,  the 
vilest  criminal — Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  K.C.B.,  ....  a 
member  of  ILer  Majesty's  Privy  Council,  Premier  and 
President  of  the  Council  for  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
the  modern  Machiavelli  and  Supreme  Ruler  of  one  of 
Queen  Victoria's  colonies,  the  old,  decrepit  and  unscrupu- 
lous statesman  who  has  already  one  foot  in  the  grave,  or 
Louis  David  Kiel,  the  young,  energetic  and  heroic  Ilalf- 
breed  who,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  took  up  arms  for  the 
defense  and  protection  of  his  native  land,  and  who,  sixteen 
years  after  died  bravely  for  its  cause,  without  even  cursing 
the  name  of  the  man  who  had  plotted  and  ordered  his  death  ? 


)  l)ack  to 
party  or 

French 
certainly 
e.      My 

matter, 
le  good 
?  shared 

bloody 
r  all  the 
n  nee  ted 

to  me 
only.  I 

ormed 

rid  will 
rer,  the 

•       •       •       •        3; 

er  and 
'anada, 
one  of 
cnipu- 
ive,  or 
Ilalf- 
or  the 
ixteen 
irsing 
eath  ? 


31 


THE  TROOPS  IN  MANITOBA. 

After  the  arrival  of  tlie  (/anadian  troops  in  Manitoh:!, 
August,  1S7(>,  the  fonntry  soon  quieted  down  and  the 
establishment  of  the  (-anadian  Government  went  on 
steadily  under  the  able  direction  of  Mr.  Archibald,  the 
first  Lieutenant-(Tovernor  of  the  Province. 

The  first  battalion  Ontario  Rifles,  composed  almost 
exclusively  of  English  Canadians  and  Orangemen,  was 
quartered  at  Fort  Oarry,  that  is  to  say,  in  the  midst  of 
the  French  Half-breed  settlement ;  and  the  second  battalion 
(Quebec  Kifles,  in  whose  ranks  were  the  150  French 
Canadian  Volunteers,  was  sent  to  the  Stone  Fort,  twenty- 
two  miles  distant,  and  surrounded  by  the  English  popula- 
tion of  the  Province. 

Was  this  arrangement  a  wise  one  ?  J  hardly  think  so, 
and  the  numberless  scenes  of  horror  that  soon  followed 
l)rove  that  the  contrary  would  have  been  far  better ! 
But,  the  Commander  in  Chief,  Colonel  Wolseley,  the 
same  who  almost  commenced,  his  military  career  in 
Manitoba,  and  who  recently  ended  it  so  glorhnidy  in  the 
Soudan,  had  ordered  that  it  should  be  so,  and  so  it  was ! 

Here,  a  very  strong  and  very  peculiar  analogy  strikes 
me  as  being  worthy  of  remark :  Wolselcy  was  sent  to 
Manitol)a  with  positive  instructions  (no  doul)t)  to  hang 
Kiel,  and  he  could  not  accomplish  his  mission,  he  arrived 
too  late!  Fifteen  years  later  he  was  dispatched  to  the 
Soudan  at  the  head  of  a  sti'ong  and  imposing  army,  with 


i 


—  32 


orrlcrs  to  rescue   General    Gordon,   and   there  ai^ain  he 
orn'nef/  too  htte  ! 

He  liad  only  a  small  army  when  he  went  U)  Manitoha, 
and,  save  myriads  of  nios(|niioes,  found  nobody  or  noth- 
in<i;  to  iiijlit  with  ;  he  went  ])aek  to  England  a  yreat  vi('t(»r, 
and  he  was  made  a  (leneral  and  a  Sir.    Later  on  he  was 


made  a  Lord 


id  of 


When  he  went  to  the  ISoudan,  he  had  the  eommanu  ol 
a  large  army,  and  there  at  last  he  found  a  chance  to 
tight.  But  this  time  the  enemy  proved  a  tritle  tougher 
than  mos(]uitoes,  and  the  result  was  (notwithstanding  the 
assertions  to  the  contrary  published  at  the  time  b}  the  Eng- 
lish press)  defeat  after  defeat,  and  a  double-quick  retreat. 

The  worse  of  it  all,  is  that  poor  gallant  General  Gordon 
never  saw  the  radiant  face  of  his  would-b(5  I'escuer — and 
who  can  tell  that  it  was  not  Wolseley's  incapacity  and 
slow  action  that  caused  Gordon's  death? 

Victorious  when  ho  had  nobody  to  battle  with, 
Wolseley  was  thrashed  ignominously  when  he  met  the 
soldiers  of  the  Mahdi.  He  was  successful  in  Manitoba 
with  a  small  body  of  troops  without  tiring  a  single  shot, 
and  he  called  his  invisible  enemy,  '"  banditti.  "  In  the 
Soudan,  wlien  commanding  thousands  of  well  armed 
men,  he  was  most  shamefully  beaten.  Nevertheless,  he 
returned  to  England,  and  was  received  with  cheers.  His 
next  reward  (0  will  be  a  Duke's  title,  and  he  will  change 
his   name   from    Lord  Mosquito  Wolseley  to  that  of 

pUKE  IvABTOOi^  ToOLATE  ! 


—  33  — 

And,  of  '•oiirse,  he  will  duly  iiKxlify  jiiul  improve  liis 
ducal  eHcutcheoii,  and  placu  prominently  on  it  the  livid 
and  bloody  head  of  brave  General  (Gordon ! 

ATROCITIES   COMMITTED    BY  THE  ONTARIO 

VOLUNTEERS. 


th( 


The  Ked  River  Expeditionary  Corps  was  three  months 
on  its  way  to  Manitoba,  from  CoUingwood  to  Winni|)eg. 
The  soldiers,  regulars  and  volunteers,  did  not  receive  a 
penny  during  the  journey.  Five  or  six  days  after  their 
arrival,  they  were  paid  in  full,  giving  each  man  an  average 
of  twenty  dollars. 

It  was  then  that  the  lugubrious  fun  commenced. 
Those  men  who  were  supposed  to  be  ke])t  under  the  rules 
of  strict  military  discipline,  went  around  Winni])eg  and 
vicinity,  infuriated  and  drunk,  yelling,  swearing,  cursing 
and  threatening.  They  were  looking  and  searching  for 
the  murderers  of  Scott.  They  unmercifully  insulted  and 
assaulted  the  Half-breeds  who  had  been  imprudent  enough 
to  come  to  town  in  order  to  attend  to  business.  As 
yet  there  was  no  police  force  organized.  Those 
soldiers,  clad  in  the  uniform  of  Her  Most  Gracious 
Majesty,  became  intoxicated  and  delirious  brutes.  They 
insulted  women  and  children,  beating  most  cruelly 
every  Metis  unfortunate  enough  to  cross  their  path. 
They  often  entered  isolated  houses  where  they  found  de- 
fenceless women  and  children.  The  outrai'es  th(iv  commit- 


—  34 


ted  on  many  occaHions  jirc  too  I'cvoltiiii;  and  too  horrid  to 
1)0  ])iit  down  in  writing.  All  tliis  was  perpetrated  in 
the  name  of  their  (Jod  and  Kin^^  William  of  Orange, 
and  remained  utterly  unnoticed  hy  the  Bupcrior  otKeer 
eommantlini^  at  Fort  (iarry,  (Ntlonel  .larvis.  lie  Bmiled 
eomplaeeiitlv  and  indiflerentlv  at  all  these  atrocities,  more 
worthy  of  cannihals  th;iii  of  soldiers  whose  duty  was  to 
kei'p  tlu!  peaee  and  show  moderation  and  good  example. 
Who  knows  hut  good  Colonel  Jarvis  regretted  perhaps 
keenly,  and  in  2>dto^  that  he  was  too  old  to  take  his  share 
in  the  sanguinary  sport. 

And,  in  the  evening,  after  entering  their  barracks, 
(if  they  were  not  too  drunk  to  hreathe)  these  fearless  and 
defiant  warriors  recounted  with  delight  and  touching  pride 
their  prowess  of  the  day. 

However,  the  defaulters  were  never  brought  up  to  the 
orderly  I'oom  to  receive  the  punishment  of  the-''  repulsive 
exploits. 

And  why  should  they  be  punished?  Pshaw!  Is'on- 
sense !  The  men  they  had  left  half  dead  on  the  ground, 
the  women  and  young  girls  they  had  cowardh  outi-aged, 
the  children  they  had  so  cruelly  beaten  were  only  French 
Half-breeds,  nothing  but  French  Halt-breeds ! 


REFERENCES. 

If  my  readers,  whomsoever  they  may  be,  think  I  am 
exaggerating  facts,  I  will  humbly  ask  them  to  inquire  into 


-^  R5  — 

tho  vt'i'noitv  of  u\\  statements  from  f*iioli  men  nn  OovornoP 
Arcliili.'ild,  A.  M.  lirowii,  Dr.  O'Donncll,  Picinicr  J<»lm 
Nor<iiiJiy,  Di".  liinl,  Iloiionildc  il.  II.  Clarke,  (iovernor 
Donald  A.  Smith,  Ilonorahle  ('apt.  Thomas  Howard, 
Honorable  Judge  Dubue,  John  McTaviNh,  ete.,  etc.  All 
of  thcHC  pjentlemen  (except  Mr.  Arehibald)  arc  still  living 
in  Manitoba,  and  I  beg  to  observe  that  the  majority  of 
tiiem  were  hostile  and  c/pposed  to  Kiel  and  his  party. 

COLONEL    WOLSELEY'S  BLUNDER. 


While  all  these  violences  were  perpetrated  in  "Winni- 
peg by  the  members  of  the  1st  Batallion  of  Ontario 
spcuJasslns,  the  2d  Batallion  of  (Quebec,  nndcr  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  A.  Casault,  was  peacefully  barracked  in 
the  Stone  Fort,  and  but  a  few  cases  of  insubordination 
w'cre  ever  brougiit  to  tho  attention  of  Governor  Archi- 
bald. 

Now,  let  us  suppose  for  a  moment  that  Colonel 
Wolseley  had  detailed  the  Ist  Batalli»»n  for  duty  at  the 
Stone  Fort  and  the  2d  JjatalHon  at  Foil  Garry,  what 
would  have  been  the  result  of  such  disposition  ? 

Any  honest,  sensible  and  impartial  mind  can  readily 
answer  the  question.  If  English-s})eaking  soldiers  had 
done  duty  among  English-speaking  settlei's,  they  would 
undoubtedly  have  pulled  together  most  admirably  ;  and  if 
French-speaking  volunteei's  had  been  quartered  in  the 
midst  of  the  French-speaking  population,  none  of  the 


—  3r»  — 

ferocious  (IclmIs  al)ove  related  would  have  takeu  jdace. 
Buc,  perhaps  Colouel  Wolseley  had  received  instruc- 
tious  to  act  as  he  did,  aud  Sir  Johu  A.  MacDonald  had 
reasons  of  his  own  in  giving  sucli  orders. 

A   SIMPLE  QUESTION. 

And  now,  let  me  ask  who  were  the  "  banditti  "  in  all 
this:  The  oppressed  people  who  started  a  rebellion 
through  pure  patriotism,  or  the  salaried  vandals,  wearing 
the  British  uniform,  who  had  been  sent  to  subdue  it  and 
make  the  English  name  honored  and  respected  ? 

The  former  had  been  almost  starved  while'fighting  f or 
their  rights ;  the  latter  were  paid  by  the  government  to 
plunder  and  to  kill. 

The  opinion  of  the  civilized  world  and  posterity  will 
answer. 

HALF-BREEDS  DISPOSSESSED  BY  ONTARIO 
SPECULATORS. 


A  few  months  later,  the  Dominion  Govei  nment  suc- 
ceeded in  quieting  the  Half-breeds  by  a  grant  of  240 
acr»:?«  of  land  to  each  one  of  tliei'i  living  in  Manitoba,  as 
a  compensation  for  disturbing  the  old  river  frontage 
system. 

Here  commences  a  period  of  hidden  and  calculated 
persecution  and  base  speculation  of  another  order. 


—  3: 


As  soon  as  tlic  decisioii  of  the  government  was  known 
througli  the  Province,  speculators  started  their  work  of 
monopoly.  They  commenced  by  making  friends  with  the 
Metis ;  they  attracted  them  and  watched  their  presence  in 
town.  The  tigers  and  the  iambs  of  the  day  before  met  in 
the  bar-room  and  drank  together.  The  scheming  specu- 
lators purposely  treated  their  intended  victims  gener- 
ously. Many  of  the  Ilalf-breeds,  unsuspicious  of  what 
was  going  on  under  hand,  fell  into  the  snare,  and  very 
often,  when  under  the  influence  of  li(]iior,  sold  their  claims 
for  a  mock  remnneration.  I  have  known  intimately  well- 
established  citizens  of  Winnipeg,  who  succeeded  in  buy- 
ing Half-breed's  titles  (240  acres)  for  twenty,  twenty -five 
and  thirty  dollars.  Some  of  those  speculators  canvassed 
the  country  from  Portage  La  Prairie  to  Pointe  du  Chene, 
and  by  some  means  or  another  came  back  from  their  trip 
the  lawful  possessors  of  large  and  extensive  tracks  of  land. 

I  am  far  from  blaming  those  who  were  shrewd  and 
adroit  enough  to  acquire  wealth  in  so  short  a  time.  It 
was  a  legal  transaction.  Nor  shall  I  blame  the  Metis 
who  foolishly  and  thoughtlessly  sold  their  land  for 
a  morsel  of  bread.  This  is  certainly  no  Imsiness  of  mine. 
But  what  I  find  tricky  and  dishonorable,  is  the  way  in 
which  nine  out  of  ten  of  these  transactions  were  made. 

Supposing  I  know  that  such  and  such  a  man  is  inclined 
to  drink,  and  that  after  the  first  glass  of  liquor  he  is 
liable  to  lose  control  of  himself,  would  I  be  acting  the 
part  of  an  honest  man  by  seeking  him,  in  the  very  midst 


I 


—  38  — 

of  his  family,  and  through  convincing  and  persuasive 
talk  decide  him  to  make  the  first  step  ?  After  his  third 
or  fourth  glass,  the  man  will  readily  sign  a  deed  by  which 
he  will  find  himself,  on  the  morrow,  without  a  home. 
And  all  this  will  have  been  accomplished  for  a  trivial  sum 
of  money.  I  may  be  wealthier  after  the  bargain  is  con- 
cluded, but  I  fail  to  see  if  I  will  be  as  respectable,  or  still 
deserving  to  be  called  honest.  Unfortunately,  in  the 
eyes  of  many  people,  in  every  country  of  the  world,  this 
is  only  a  trifling  consideration,  even  if  the  man  thus  vic- 
timized is  left  without  a  roof  to  shelter  himself  and  his 
family. 

But,  what  will  Half-breeds  think  of  us,  civilized 
people,  when  they  realize  their  first  experience  of  civili- 
zation ? 


RIEL  OFFERS  HIS  SERVICES  TO  THE  GOVERNMENT.- 

THEY  ARE  ACCEPTED. 


In  1871,  during  the  Fenian  invasion  headed  bv 
O' Donahue,  Kiel,  strongly  prompted  by  Archbishop 
Taclie,  offered  his  services  to  the  Government  to  help 
repulse  the  invaders.  Governor  Archibald  crossed  the 
Ked  River  and  met  tlie  banished  leader  in  front  of  the 
cath  dral  of  St.  Boniface.  Kiel's  offer  was  accepted, 
and  on  the  same  day  he  went  scouting  around  the  country 
with  two  hundred  of  his  men, 


—  39  — 

The  invasion  amounted  to  nothing  anyway,  and 
order  was  soon  restored  throughout  the  country. 

RIEL  ELECTED  AT  PRO¥ENCHER. 

Sliortly  afterwards,  Riel  was  unanimously  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons  for  the  District  of 
Provenchor. 

lie  went  to  Ottawa,  and  was  reguhirly  sworn  into 
office  by  the  Clerk  of  the  House.  Hearing  of  his  presence 
in  the  city,  infuriated  Orangemen  swore  to  slay  the  ex- 
rebel  leader.  Riel  was  then  advised  to  leave  Ottawa,  and 
the  day  after  his  departure,  his  seat  was  declared  vacant. 

This  is  a  striking  instance  of  the  weakness  or  bad  will 
of  the  government.  Here  is  a  man  who  had  been  lawfully 
and  unanimously  elected  a  representative  of  the  people, 
and  who  was  prevented  from  taking  his  seat  after  being 
duly  sworn  into  office.  Not  because  his  election  was 
declai'ed  fraudulent,  but  because  a  mob  of  fanatic 
Orangemen  threatened  bis  life  if  he  dared  to  resume  his 
duties  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons.  The 
Government  of  the  Dominion,  instead  of  protecting  him 
as  a  Deputy,  weakened  before  the  threats,  and  yielded 
to  the  vociferations  of  a  blood-thirsty  oligarchy. 


THE  GOVERNMENT'S  COWARDICE. 

All  of  this  has  taken  place  in  the  nineteenth  century, 
in  a  country  belonging  to  the  British  Empire,  and  whos 


-  40  — 


Constitution  is  under  tlic  protection  of  tlic  Kn^lisli  tlii^I 
All !  if  Kiel  liad  ])een  an  Oranp^eman,  Sir  John  A.  Mac- 
Donald  would  have  called  out  tlie  whole  strength  of  the 
Canadian  Militia. 

If,  instead  of  heing  a  poor  and  simple  Half -breed,  Kiel 
had  been  the  dictatorial  and  wcaltliy  representative  of  an 
Orange  county,  he  would  have  taken  his  seat,  even  at  the 
cost  of  twenty,  fifty  or  one  hundred  lives  and  in  spite 
of  all  the  protestations  of  the  whole  Catholic  Canada. 
But  he  was  only  a  modest  and  uninfluential  Metis,  who 
had  dared  to  resist  the  autocratic  commands  of  the  mighty 
Prime  Minister,  and  his  life  would  not  have  been  safe, 
even  on  the  floor  of  the  House  of  Commons,  where  the 
majesty  and  greatness  of  Great  Britain  is  so  pompously 
represented  by  the  most  unscrupulous  and  most  omnipo- 
tent statesmen  of  the  Dominion. 


Mac- 

tllG 


Ricl 
F  an 
tlic 
ntc 
da. 

fe, 
he 
ilv 


FIFTEEN  YEARS 


OF 


PERSECUTION. 


FIFTEEN  YEARS  OF  PERSECUTION. 


II. 


THE  REAL  CAUSES  OF  THE  REBELLIONS  OF  1869  AND 

OF  1885. 

Let  118  recapitulate  the  principal  facts  that  took  place 
in  Manitoba  since  1869,  and  see  if  the  Metis  had  sutlicient 
reasons  to  protest  against  the  acts  of  the  Government 
which  had  treated  them  with  such  unwarranted  contempt. 

1869. 


On  the  2r.th  of  July,  after  hearin-,^  of  the  transaction 
that  had  taken  place  between  the  Canadian  Government 
and  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  the  French  Half-breeds 
held  their  first  meeting  at  St.  Boniface. 

Eesolutions  were  passed  and  a  Committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  inquire  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  ollicials 
what  the  population  of  Manitoba  was  to  expect  from  the 
sale  of  the  country  to  the  Canadian  Government.     The 


I    ■'  1 


„-44  __ 

moinlxTs  of  tli(j('oniniittce  were  laughed  at  \>y  the  Com- 
pany's officers. 

These  people  were  owly  .iskiiifi;  wliat  wouhl  become 
(►f  them  and  their  families,  whoa  under  the  control  of 
their  purchasers.  Their  liumble  and  just  request  was 
scorned  with  disdain. 

On  the  ll>th  of  October,  Honorable  Wm.  ]VIcDou«z;all, 
the  Lieutenant  Governor  appointed  by  tlie  Ottawa  CJabi- 
net,  was  on  liis  way  to  Winnij^e^;  lie  was  forbidden  the 
entry  of  the  Province  by  the  Half-breeds,  who  insisted 
upon  knowing  wliat  would  be  their  lot,  before  allowing; 
tlie  Canadian  (Tovernment's  representative  to  enter  the 
country.  Mr.  McDougall  thought  it  advisable  to  retreat, 
and  he  returned  to  Ottawa. 

On  November  3d,  tlie  rebels  (?)  took  possession  of 
Fort  (larry,  the  most  important  post  of  the  Hudson  ]5ay 
(^omi)any,  and  on  the  8tli  of  December,  the  Provisional 
(lovernment  was  organized  and  Kiel  elected  President. 

Was  there  anything  wrong  in  these  actions  of  the 
Metis?  I  should  certainly  think  not.  Had  the  Canadian 
Ministers  let  these  peojde  know  what  their  intentions 
were,  the  rebellion  would  not  have  taken  plao.  Had  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  used  a  little  more  discretion  in 
its  dealing  with  the  Half-breeds,  the  outbreak  would 
never  have  occurred. 

1870. 


On  the  Tth  of  January,  seeing  that  things  were  getting 


45  — 


4 


seriouK,  and  that  tlie  Metis,  so  loii^  ignored,  were  not 
disposed  to  allow  theniselv^es  to  be  swallowed  up  without 
protesting  most  energetically,  the  ('anadian  (lovernment 
asked  the  mediation  of  Bishop  Taelie  who  was  known  to 
have  great  influence  over  his  people. 

The  Kight  Keverend  Bishop  kindly  consented  to  act 
as  mediator  between  the  (Tovernment  and  the  rebels  {() 
and  on  the  lOth  of  February,  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald 
officially  authorized  Bishop  Tache  to  ])roclaim,  in  the  Cabi- 
net's name,  a  full  and  general  amnesty,  and  to  promise  the 
Metis  the  entire  and  energetic  ]>rotection  of  the  Govern- 
ment. 

While  this  was  taking  place,  and  at  the  time  when  the 
wdiole  difficulty  was  about  being  settled.  Major  Boulton, 
pretending  to  be  an  authorized  representative  of  the  (iov- 
ernment  of  Canada,  endeavored,  with  about  200  men,  to 
take  Kiel  prisoner.  Kiel  rightly  saw  in  this  occurrence  a 
direct  and  outrageous  violation  of  the  amnesty  that  had 
just  been  proclaimed,  and  decided  to  accord  no  more  con- 
fidence to  the  })roniises  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  until 
futher  consideration. 

It  was  shortly  after — March  4th — that  Thomas  Scott 
was  executed.  1  have  already  said,  and  1  now  repeat, 
that  Scott  deserved  his  fate,  and  I  defy  any  living  man, 
who  has  positively  known  what  sort  of  a  desperate  chai'- 
acter  Scott  was,  to  consciencously  put  foi'ward  the  argu- 
ment that  his  death  was  not  a  measure  of  public  safety  ; 
and  I  will  go  further,  in  saying,  that  (jnly  those  who  have 


-46 


an  object  in  calliiii;  that  oxocntion  a  cold-ljloodcd  murder, 
can  deny  tlie  fact  tliat  tliis  deed  wan  on  Riel's  part,  us  I 
said  l)efore,  absolutely  and  exclusively  a  case  of 


SE^F' DEFENCE. 


After  bis  arrest  and  before  liis  trial,  Scott  was  asked 
several  times  to  leave  the  country,  he  persistently  refused, 
and  he  said  openly  on  several  occasions  that  he  should  re- 
main in  Manitoba  until  he  had  put  a  bullet  through  the 
brains  of  that of  a  French  Half- 
breed  Kiel. 

lie  M'as  advised  by  his  own  friends  to  keep  quiet  and 
wait  patiently,  like  the  other  people  of  the  Province,  for 
the  re-establishment  of  peace  and  order.  No,  he  insisted 
upon  "  having  that  bastard's  life." 

Liquor  had  made  of  Scott  a  mad  and  dangerous  being; 
and  in  Manit  ^ba  as  well  as  anvwhere  else,  when  one 
meets  a  venomous  saake,  the  best  thing  he  can  do  is  to 
crush  its  head. 

The  Orange  press  has  said,  again  and  again,  that  Riers 
government  was  not  legal,  that  tlie  court  that  had  tried 
and  sentenced  Scott  had  no  jurisdiction  or  authority,  and 
that  consequently  his  execution  was  a  murder. 

But  let  us  see  : 

Had  that  government  dc  facto  l)een  organized  and 
formed  by  the  people  ? 

Unquestionably  yes ! 


—  47  — 


i 


Had  Kiel  the  right  to  apjxmit  a  court  of  jiiBticc  to  try 
a  felon  ? 

UntlLMiiably  yes ! 

And  had  that  court  of  justice  the  right  to  pronounce 
a  s^entence  ? 

Undoubtedly  yes! 

1  know  full  well,  that  wliat  preceeds  will  create  an 
uproar  among  a  certain  class  of  jK'ople — the  red-hot  a])os- 
tles  of  William  of  Orange,  for  instance — but  1  shall, 
nevertheless,  insist  uj)on  this  point :  Scott  was  deserving 
a  severe  and  exemplary  puni&hment,  and  in  supposing 
that  Riel  and  the  members  of  his  government  took  a 
great  responsibility  upon  themselves  in  allowing  him  to 
be  put  to  death,  the  following  puts  an  end  to  all 
arguments  about  this  chai'ge : 

On  t/ieS4.th  of  June,  IS 73,  Lord  Kiinherly,  Secretary 
for  the  Colonies,  in  answer  to  an  official  request,  signed 
hij  Lord  Dufferin,  then  Governor  General  of  Canada^ 
notified  the  Dominion  Ckdjinct  that  the  Lmperial  Govern- 
ment had  granted  a  full  amnesty  in  favor  of  Riel  and 
his  followers. 

What  can  remain  to  be  said  now?  If  in  reality  Riel 
had  committed  manslaughter  in  1S69,  which  hypothesis 
is  very  questionable,  he  was  fully  pardoned  in  1S73  by 
the  Imperial  Government  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of 
Great  Britain. 

On  the  9th  of  March,  1S70,  Bishop  Tache  returned  from 


—  4H_ 

()tt:iw:i,  and  in  t)ic  nunie  of  tlio  Iiiiperiiil  and  1  ><iniiiii(>ii 
goveriiineiits  promised  a  (•uinj)lctu  amnesty  to  all  the 
inHur^ents  in  general,  and  to  Kiel  and  Lepine  in  particu- 
lar, and  a  full  pardon  for  am,  okfknckh  committed  durin<< 
the  insurrection,   'iirlnditHj  the  ej-'erutfon  <tf  Srott, 

AN  INFAMOUS  TREACHERY. 


( )n  the  24th  of  the  same  month.  Father  Ritchot, 
Judf^e  Blake  and  Mr.  A.  Scott  were  sent  to  Ottawa  as  dele- 
gates for  the  Metis,  and  they  came  hack  to  Manitoha  on 
the  17th  of  fJune,  reporting  that  Lord  Dnlferin  and  Sir 
Clinton  Murdoch  liad  given  the  assurance,  in  the  name  of 
Her  Majesty,  that  the  amnesty  would  hQphine  et  entiere  ! 

On  the  12th  of  July,  Bishop  Tache  received  a  letter 
from  Sir  George  E.  Cartier,  Minister  of  Militia,  corroborat- 
ing and  confirming  the  statement  of  the  delegates  with 
I'eference  to  the  entirety  of  the  amnesty. 

On  the  2-4th  of  August,  the  troops,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Wolseley,  arrived  at  Fort  Garry,  and  in  spite  of 
all  the  peaceful  and  solemn  assurances  of  tlie  Ottawa 
Government,  the  Commander  in  Chief  issued  the  procla- 
mation spoken  of  previously,  calling  "  banditti'-  the  men 
who  had  received,  five  months  previous,  the  assurance  of 
a  full  pardon  by  the  Imperial  Government. 

AV^ho  was  guilty  of  this  abominable  treachery  ?  The 
Imperial  Goverimient  i  The  Dominion  Cabinet '{  or  Colo- 
nel Wolseloy  ? 


—  4»  — 

I  know  not,  l)Ut  I  know  who  were  the  too  iiiitni'roii> 
victiniK  of  this  infaitionH  jind  unj)ivcecl('nt('(l  pnare, of  thit* 
vile  iind  hast'  perfidy.  Witli  the  arrival  of  th(^  tro(»|>s 
(•oiiinienccd  the  fearful  reign  of  terror  1  have  already 
and  rapidly  described. 

1871. 


On  the  I^d  of  October,  Lientenant-Governor  Archi- 
bald issued  a  proclamation  askimr  for  volunteers  to 
repulse  the  Fenian  invasion.  Foi'i::ettin<;  how  cruelly 
thev  had  been  wrontretl,  Kiel  oll'ered  his  services  and 
those  of  his  followers  to  the  (iovernnient. 

Mr.  Archibald  accepted  his  olfer  and  reviewed  the 
Metis  volunteers  at  St.  Boniface.  Kiel  ininiediatelv 
started  with  two  hundred  men. 

In  an  otticial  letter  addressed  to  Sir  .lohn  A. 
MacOonald,  Mr.  Archibald  fraidvly  stated  that  the  loyalty 
shown  by  the  entire  ])opulation  «)f  the  Vivjvince,  and  the 
success  he  had  met  in  protecting  it  against  the  I'eiiian 
invasion,  was  entirely  due  to  the  policy  of  moderation  he 
had  adopted  toward  the  Metis.  His  letter  contained  the 
following  passage,  which  we  shall  leave  to  the  appreciation 
of  impartial  and  well-thinking  peoi)ie  :  "  Had  the  I'lcnch 
"  Metis  been  pushed  to  extremities,  O'Donahue,  the 
''  Fenian  leader,  who  had  been  a  memlu'r  oi  Kiel's  govern- 
'*  ment,  and  who  had  many  fi'iends  among  the  Half-breeds, 
"  would  have  been  joined  by  the  whole  population  of  tho 


-  oO  — 


country  situated  l)et\veen  Peuibiua  and  the  Assiniboiiic 
"  Iliver,  the  Kuglish  ])ortion  of  the  Province  would  hdvc 
"  been  plundered,  and  the  English  settlers  massacred  to 
"  the  last." 

Were  Kiel  and  his  followers  confirmed  and  irrepress- 
ible rebels  aftei'  all  i 

Did  not  their  loyal  course  in  this  predicament  prove 
that,  had  the  nieml)ers  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonakFs  Cabi- 
net understood  better  the  peo])le  they  had  so  long  and  so 
grossly  wronged,  they  could  have  had  in  them  the  most 
faitliful  and  reliable  subjects  in  the  Dominion. 

Fair  and  proper  treatment  would  have  forever  made 
them  staunch  and   true  to  the  British  crown. 

But  they  never  got  such  treatment  at  the  hands  of 
the  Canadian  Covornment,  and  the  last  blow  they  have 
received  in  the  execution  of  Kiel  has  irrevocably  severed 
any  possible  and  amicable  tie  with  his  executioners. 

On  the  27th  of  December  of  the  same  year  (1871) 
after  a  full  and  complete  anmesty  had  been  proclaimed, 
after  Uiel  and  his  Metis  had  proved  that  tliey  were  will- 
ing to  redeem  the  |)ast,  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  found  a 
new  way  to  cowardly  insult  the  leader  of  the  Metis. 
in  a  confidential  letter  addressed  to  Bishop  Taclie,  he  ap- 
j)rised  him  that  he  had  ado])ted  a  new  and  friendly  policy 
regarding  Kit-l. 

In  that  leller  was  a  check  for  $1000  to  be  given 
to  Riel  on  condition  that  he  would  leave  the  country,  and 
jJTotothe  United  States. 


—  51  — 

I  need  not  say  that  tlie  check  was  refused. 

Tills  new  and  bitter  insult  wa^*  bravely  swallowed  by 
the  Metis  chief,  and  the  next  humiliation  was  patiently 
looked  for. 

1872. 


The  beginning  of  that  year  was  full  of  sad  and  tumul- 
tuous events  for  Kiel. 

The  Orange  element,  stationed  at  Fort  Garry,  com- 
menced their  nightly  excursions  towards  St.  Vital,  the 
parish  were  Riel  lived  with  his  family. 

The  young  Metis  leader  had  been  pardoned  by  the 
Imperial  and  Dominion  governments,  but  not  by  the 
worthy  companions  of  Scott. 

They  frequently  visited  the  house  inhabited  by  Kiel's 
mother,  and  insulted  most  unmercifully  that  old  and 
defenceless  woman.  They  tried  to  obtain  from  her,  by 
force,  the  name  of  the  place  where  her  son  was  living. 
They  threatened  to  lire  the  house ;  they  even  went  so  far 
as  to  beat  her. 

I  have  now  a  revelation  to  make  which  will  explain 
why  some  of  these  Ontario  cut-throats  were  so  anxious 
to  meet  lliel. 

What  I  am  about  to  expose  is  so  horrid  and  repulsive 
that  my  readers  will  probably  doubt  it,  but  I  will  never- 
theless go  on  with  what  I  have  to  say. 

I  have  not  been  told  about  this  fact.     1  have  wit- 


52 


!;' 


■  i 


;■  I 


nessed  it,  and  I  most  solemnly  declare  that  I  am  now 
writing  the  truth,  as  revolting  as  it  may  appear.  A  man  (?) 
named  Frank  Cornish,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  came  to 
Manitoba  towards  the  end  of  1871,  and  opened  an  office 
in  Winnipeg. 

He  was  originally  from  London  (Ontario),  and  had 
been  Mayor  of  that  town. 

A  most  scandalous  affair  which  made  quite  a  noise  at 
the  time  all  through  the  country,  obliged  him  to  leave 
Upper  Canada. 

He  came  to  Manitoba,  well  knowing  tliat  there  was  a 
field  for  one  of  his  stamp  and  calibre.  He  was  a 
fervent  Orangeman,  and  soon  was  known  by  all  his  co- 
religionists. 

One  week  or  so  after  his  arrival  in  Winnipeg  I  met 
him  in  a  court  room  for  the  first  time.  I  shall  remember, 
as  long  as  I  live,  the  first  impression  he  produced  on  me. 

He  was  rather  heavily  built.  The  expression  of  his 
face  had  something  of  the  wolf  and  fox  mixed  together. 
His  eyes,  fearfully  crooked,  like  his  conscience,  had  a 
look  of  cruelty  difficult  to  describe. 

He  was  an  astute  and  shrewd  politician,  a  fluent  but 
violent  speaker. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Manitoba,  I  heard  that, 
although  professing  to  be  an  irreconcilable  enemy  of 
Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  he  was  staunchly  devoted  to 
him,  and  always  ready  to  do  the  dirty  work  of  the  Pi'ime 
Minister,      He  soon   became   very   popular   among   the 


4 


—  5fi  — 

enemieB  and  persecutors  of  Riel — and  later  on  he  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Winnipeg. 

One  evening,  I  was  going  on  foot  from  one  of  tlie 
hotels  in  the  town  to  the  liouse  of  a  friend,  who  was 
residing  on  tlie  bank  of  the  Red  River, 

It  was  about  nine  o'clock,  snow  had  fallen  heavily 
during  the  day,  and  I  could  not  hear  my  own  footsteps. 

In  turning  a  corner  of  the  road,  the  sound  of  several 
voices  reached  my  ear,  and  I  distinctly  lieard  the  name 
of  Riel. 

1  naturally  stopped  and  listened  without  seeing  the 
parties  who  were  speaking,  they  were  hidden  from  me 
bv  the  corner  of  a  demolished  stone  fence. 

While  listening  attentively,  I  recognized  the  voice  of 
Frank  Cornish,  and  the  following  is  the  exact  report  of 
the  conversation  which  was  going  on  : 

Cornish  was  speaking :  ''  Riel  must  now  be  in  his 
house,  I  tell  you.  I  know  that  he  came  to-day  from  Pem- 
bina and  that  he  will  be  with  his  mother  until  to-morrow 
morning.     Now  is  the  time  to  catch  him." 

"  Who  guarantees  that  the  money  will  be  paid  us  after 
the  thing  is  done  ^ "' 

"  I  do,  there  are  two  thousand  dollars  to  be  divided 
between  the  four  of  vou.'' 

"  Yes,"  said  another  voice,  "  and  you  keep  three  thou- 
sand dollars  for  yourself.  We  are  to  do  the  iob  and 
run  all  the  risks,  and  we  four  won't  get  as  much  as  you  who 
are  doing  nothing." 


Ill 


!!",      • 


—  54  — 

"  Never  mind  what  I  keep  for  myself,"  said  Cornish, 
"  there  are  no  risks  any  how.  Kiel  is  a  damned  rebel 
after  all.  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  will  be  only  too  ^lad 
to  get  rid  of  him.  Fie  won't  prosecute  anybody.  Kow, 
is  it  understood  ? '' 

"  Well !  we'll  start  right  now ;  but  remember,  if  we  get 
into  trouble,  you'll  get  us  out  of  it." 

"  Don't  fret,  and  don't  forget  this:  I  don't  want  his 
body,  his  head  will  do.  You  have  your  bag  and  youi- 
masks.  You  are  well  armed,  now  go  on,  I  shall  wait  the 
whole  night  for  you  in  my  office." 

A  few  moments  after,  I  saw  four  men  crossing  the 
Assiniboine,  just  opposite  Fort  Garry,  and  going  in  the 
direction  of  St.  Vital. 

The  conversation  did  not  end  there  ;  Cornish  and 
another  man  were  still  speaking. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  the  check  will  be  paid  ? "  asked 
the  man. 

"  1  am  ;  all  the  man  who  came  from  Toronto  wants, 
is  Kiel's  head.    He'll  cash  the  check  on  delivery  !  " 

Here  I  heard  a  laugh. 

''But  let  us  go,"  continued  Cornish,  "it  is  too  cold  for 
me  here ;  there  is  a  good  tire  in  the  office  and  some  good 
wdiiskey,  come  along." 

And  the  voices  grew  weaker  and  more  and  more 
indistinct.     The  two  men  were  going  towards  the  town. 

I  resolved  then  and  there  to  baffle  this  infamous  con- 
spiracy.    I  was  well  ac(piainted  with  the  Deputy  Chief 


ii 


;>.) 


■I 

-4 


of  tlie  Mounted  Police,  Richard  Power,  a  yoiiiiii;  man 
who  has  since  met  his  deatli  in  the  performance  of  his 
duty.  It  did  not  take  me  tifteen  minutes  to  ^o  to  ins 
office. 

Fortunately  I  found  him  in.  "  l^ower,"  said  I,  "•  you 
and  I  can  prevent  a  great  calamity,  will  you  come  with 
me  and  do  what  I  say  i  T  shall  explain  everything  <»n  our 
way." 

He  knew  that  such  words,  coming  from  me,  were  not 
uttered  without  a  serious  cause.  Ten  minutes  after,  he 
had  put  his  best  horse  to  his  cutter,  and  each  of  us  armed 
with  a  good  Smith  ct  Wesson  revolver  and  a  Snyder 
carbine,  started  like  the  wind  for  the  parish  of  St.  Vital. 

AVhile  on  our  way  I  told  him  all  I  had  heard.  The 
brave  fellow  and  I  soon  decided  upon  a  plan  of  action. 
There  were  only  two  things  to  be  done  :  to  reach  lliel's 
house  in  time  to  warn  him  of  the  danger  that  was  threat- 
ening him,  or,  if  we  arrived  too  kite,  see  that  the  assassins 
could  not  accomplish  their  bloody  scheme. 

Kiel's  house  at  St.  Vital  was  seven  miles  from  F(^rt 
Garry.  About  midwa}^  we  saw  the  four  men,  who  had 
stopped  on  the  right  handside  of  the  road,  they  were 
smoking  and  drinking.  In  passing  by  them  we  held  on 
our  horse  in  order  to  try  if  we  could  not  hear  some  of 
their  conversation. 

Being  completely  wrapped  in  furs  there  was  no  danger 
that  we  would  be  recognized. 

One    of    the  nuMi   addressed   lis,    and   we    stopped : 


f  i' 


/   1 


"  Hello  I  travelers,  are  you  ^oing  far?" 
"  As  far  as  Peuibina,"  answered  I.    "  And  you  (  " 
''Oil  I"  said  the   man,  langhinj^,  "  we  are  only  on  a 
pleasure  trij).     Won't  you  take  a  drink  with  us  i '" 
"  No,  thanks !  we  have  our  own  Hasks." 
"  Well,    good-bye,  strangers  ;  hope  you'll  arrive  safe 
in  Pembina.-' 

"  So  long,  and  good  luck  to  you ;  hope  you  will  enjoy 
your  pleasure  trip." 

"  You  bet  we  will,"  said  one  of  the  men.    "■'  Good-by." 
We  whipped  up  the  horse  and  left  the   four  rulfians 
behind. 

'"■  Good  ! "  said  I  to  I^ower,  "  the  roads  are  covered 
with  snow,  those  men  will  not  reach  ^'^  Vital  before  an 
lioui"  or  so.  All  is  well;  we  have  plenty  of  time  before 
us,  but  let  us  get  there  as  quickly  as  possible.'' 

The  trip  from  Fort  Garry  to  St.  Vital  did  not  take  us 
over  eighteen  or  twenty  minutes.  When  we  arrived  at 
UieTs  house  we  saw  a  light  through  the  windows.  The 
bells  of  our  horse  had  been  heard  by  the  people  inside. 

A  man,  a  Metis,  came  to  the  door  and  asked  us  in 
French,  who  we  were  and  what  we  wanted.  I  answered 
in  the  same  language,  and  told  him  that  we  were  friends, 
and  that  we  had  some  serious  news  to  communicate. 
"  If  von  are  friends,  come  in,  and  be  welcome." 
We  jumped  out  of  our  sleigh,  and  on  entering  the 
house  we  saw  three  French  Half-breeds  sittini>:  around 
the  fire-place.     Kiel  was  one  of  them. 


57  — 


Mis  mother  and  anotlier  Ilalf-hreed  woman  were  in 
another  part  of  the  room. 

1  had  met  Kiel  several  times  before.  When  thev  saw 
us,  the  Half-breeds  i^ot  uj)  from  their  ehairs,  and  the 
movements  thev  made  with  their  hands — as  if  to  search  in 
their  pockets — showed  that  they  were  prepared  f(jr  any 
emergency. 

It  had  been  decided  between  Power  and  myself  that  it 
was  he  who  would  be  the  sj)eaker.  I  <lid  not  care,  at  the 
time,  to  be  recognized  by  the  young  Metis  leader. 

"Mr.  Kiel,"  said  my  comjKinion,  "we  ha''e  come  to 
vou  this  eveninj?  as  friends,  and  when  von  know  the 
cause  of  our  visit,  you  will  see  that  you  have  nothing  to 
fear  from  us." 

"  I  fear  nothing  and  nobody,"  answered  Kiel,  "'  but 
speak  !  what  has  brought  you  here  ?  " 

"If  in  ten  minutes  vou  have  not  left  this  house," 
continued  Power,   "your  life  will  l)e  in  serious   danger,'" 

Aud  then  he  told  him  all  about  the  four  men  who 
were  at  that  very  moment  on  their  way  to  the  house,  and 
what  their  intentions  were. 

"Let  them  come,"  s])oke  up  one  of  RieFs  friends, 
"we  are  ready  for  them,  and  if  it  comes  to  the  worst  we 
will  show  those  men  that  KieFs  head  is  still  solid  upon 
his  shoulders." 

liiel  motioned  his  friend  to  keep  (piiet.  "  I  thank  you 
most  heartily,  gentlemen,  for  what  you  have  done  for 
me,  but,"  said  he,  ''  I  am  getting  tired  of  this  cowardly 


—  r.s 


perHcciitiou  ;  wliy  Kliould  I  leave  my  own  Iiouse  and  fly 
like  a  poltroon  ^  Four  assassins  are  hjoking  for  nie,  did 
voii  sav  ;  very  well,  let  tlieni  eross  the  threshold  of  tliis 
door,  they'll  find  me  here.     J  am  waiting." 

Here  I  interfered,  and  made  him  underHtand  that  we 
had  come  to  ])revent  a  crime,  if  possible;  that  we  did 
not  doubt  his  courage,  bnt  that  every  moment  was  ])re- 
cious,  and  the  presence  of  his  mother  alone  ought  to 
determine  him  that  lighting  was  completely  out  of  time 
and  place  at  present. 

"  Yes,"  added  Power,  "  if  you  persist  in  your  decision 
to  wait  for  these  men,  you  will  not  only  aggravate  your 
position  but  very  likely  compromise  us,  who  have  come, 
moved  by  a  friendly  feeling,  to  tell  you  of  the  danger 
that  was  threatening  your  life." 

lliel  understood  the  strength  of  this  argument ;  he 
shook  hands  with  us,  and  in  live  minutes,  his  friends,  his 
mother  and  himself  left  the  house,  and  went  towards 
Riviere  Sale,  five  miles  distant.  I  afterwards  heard  that 
they  spent  the  night  in  Father  Ritchot's  house  at  St. 
Norbert. 

After  their  departure,  my  companion  and  I  decided 
to  see  what  was  coming  next.  We  drove  the  horse  and 
sleii»;h  behind  a  Ijarn  a])out  thirty  yards  from  the  liouse 
and,  carbine  in  hand,  we  waited  for  the  arrival  of  the  four 
blackguards. 

We  had  not  been  in  waiting  ten  minutes,  when  we  saw 


:i^ 


four  shadows  coming  from  tlie  iniiin  road  and  creeping 
like  snakes  towards  tlie  house. 

Seeing  no  light  inside,  they  went  all  around  the  small 
huildint;,  and  wlien  thev  met  in  front  of  the  door,  thev 
loudly  manifested  their  disappointment. 

"  I  am  sure  there  is  nobody  in  there,"  said  a  voiee, 
"the  tire  in  the  chimney  lights  the  room,  and  you  ean 
see  through  the  windows  at  the  hack  of  the  house,  that 
there  is  not  a  living  soul  in  it." 

''J*erhaps  they  are  sleeping,"  said  another  one. 

"  No!''  answered  the  tirst  one,  "'  I  saw  the  beds,  they 
are  empty.'' 

"WeM  better  wait  then,  perhaps  he  will  come.'' 

"Wait  I  I'll  be  damned  if  I  do.  Kiel  won't  come  to- 
night." 

"  Sup])ose  we  set  the  house  afire,"  went  on  another. 

"  Good  idea,''  joined  in  the  one  who  had  not  yet 
s])oken,  "  let  us  have  some  fun.'' 

The  scene  was  lit  Ijy  a  beautiful  moon  whose  retiection 
on  the  snow  made  it  almost  as  bright  as  day. 

1  said  to  my  friend  Power :  "  If  these  devils  try  to 
burn  the  house,  what  do  you  think  we  had  better  do." 

"Shoot  them  down  as  if  they  were  wolves,"  was  his 
answer. 

"  All  right  I ''  you  take  the  two  on  the  left,  and  leave 
the  others  to  me.  But,  let  us  keep  cool,  and  whatever 
happens,  wait   until   you   hear  my  tirst  shot,  and  then  go 


—  rto 


for  tlieni."    Ho  did  not  answer,  but  I  heard  him  cocking 
his  Snyder,  Jind  I  lollowe*)  suit. 

Meanwliile,  tlio  conversation  wan  goinfi^  on  in  the 
opposite  camp,  and  we  heard  distinctly  the  one  who 
seemed  to  be  tlit  lea(k^r,  saying:  ''  No  nonsense,  we  had 
better  ^o  b;u'k  to  V'^inni|)e<x,  and  leave  no  traces  here, 
nobody  will  Husj)ect  that  we  have  come,  wo  will  return 
some  otlicr  time,  and  will  have  better  hick." 

A  few  moments  after,  they  had  disappeared. 

I  never  could  find  out  who  these  four  men  were,  and 
I  do  not  know  hov  they  felt  over  their  fiasco,  but  what 
i  do  know  most  positively  is  that  iiever  l)efore  in  their 
lives  had  they  been  in  such  deadly  dang«M-  jis  on  that 
evening.  Had  they  only  iired  a  match  to  light  their  pipes, 
they  were  certainly  four  dead  men. 

Frank  Cornish  stai'ted  on  a  big  spree  the  day  after, 
and   was  not  seen  sober  for  a  month  afterwards. 

Now,  who  was  tlie  man  from  Ontario,  who  came  to 
Winnipeg  in  order  to  get  Kiel's  liead^  And  who  was 
ready  to  pay  five  thousand  dollars  for  it  ?  I  need  not  say 
that  Orangemen  from  Toronto,  or,  who  knows,  perhaps 
Sir  John  A.  Mac  Donald  himself  could  answer  these 
questions  better  than  I  could. 

And  if  there  is  justice  in  heaven,  those  who  were  im- 
plicated in  that  savage  conspiracy,  will  have  to  render 
a  terrible  account  for  their  infamv. 

In  the  beginning  of  February  of  the  same  year  (1872), 
Kiel's  friends  decided  that  he  and  Lepine  should  leave 


61  — 


II   the 

who 

e  had 

here, 

return 


the  Province  until  further  orders,  and  on  the  14th 
of  that  month  they  started  under  the  protection  of  a 
platoon  of  police,  detailed  hy  Captain  L(jui.s  V.  do  Plain- 
val,  who  was  then  in  conuimnd  of  :he  Provincial  Mounted 
l^olice  force. 

The  general  electionn  of  I87ii  throughout  C^iiiada 
were  in  a  great  many  respects  a  sur])rise  to  tiie  political 
world  of  the  Dominion. 

Sir  George  Ktienne  Cartier,  was  defeated  in  M./utreal 
East,  which  he  had  represented  so  long  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 

Mr.  .lette,  his  Oj)ponent,  won  the  election. 

Sir  George  E.  Cartier  found  himself  without  a  seat 
in  Parliament,  and  the  Cabinet  of  which  he  was  the  most 
prominent  member  with  Sir  John  A.  Mac  Donald  was, 
by  that  fact  placed  in  a  very  critical  position. 

Riel  had  been  nominated  in  the  county  of  Provencher, 
Manitoba.  Hearing  of  Sir  George's  defeat  in  Montreal, 
he  generously  resigned  i!i  liis  favor,  and  thanks  to  that 
act  of  self-sacritice,  Sir  George  E.  Cartier — upon  whose 
following  rested  the  existence  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald's 
administration — found  a  seat,  without  which  he  could  not 
continue  to  be  a  Member  of  the  Ministry. 

T  really  fail  to  see  if  such  conduct  was  that  of  an  in- 
veterate rebel,  and  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  ought  to  have 
remembered  it  before  placing  the  ro])e  in  the  hands  of 
the  sheriff  at  liegiua, 


02 


THOSE  ORANGE  LAMBS  ! 


Tlic  t'lt'ctioiis  ill  M.iiiitohji  were  the  ooiMiHioii  of  tho 
most  revolting  sceiu's  of  wivii^cry  and  cniclty  ever  wit- 
nessed in  a  eivili/AMl  country. 

Orangemen  of  Wiiiiii[)e^  turned  out  in  full  force. 

liefore  casting  their  votes,  they  had,  according  to  a 
tinie-iinnieniorial  custom,  heen  generously  supplied  with 
li(pior. 

Armed  to  the  teetli  thev  went  around  the  town 
preventing  the  Ilalf-hreeds  from  voting. 

Frank  ('ornish  was  their  leader. 

Capt.  Louis  Frassede  IMainval,  (.hief  of  the  Provincial 
Mounted  Police,  the  rei)resentative  of  Iler  Majesty's 
authority,  was  overpowered  hy  them  and  came  very  near 
losing  his  life  while  performing  his  duty. 

He  received,  in  less  than  two  minutes,  six  ugly  and 
very  dangerous  wounds,  and  was  left  for  dead  on  the 
ground,  lie  lingered  between  life  and  dtnith  for  over 
two  weeks,  and  it  was  fully  a  month  before  he  was 
declared  out  of  danger.  After  their  conimandei"  had 
fallen,  several  policemen  were  als»)  dangei'ously  wounded. 

Dui-ing  the  evening  and  the  day  after,  the  town  was 
absolutelv  in  the  power  of  the  Oranm'  mob. 

The  otHce  ot"  the  M((nifoban^  a  paper  then  hostile 
to  the  OraTige  i)arty,  was  ransacked  and  set  on  fire. 

Tiie  otlice  of  the  MHis,  the  organ  of  the  French 
po])ulation,  was  also  destroyed. 


-  n.'i 


town 


I 


I 


l*riv;itt'  lioiisrs  wciv  (.'iitt'i'rd  ami  pliiiMlcrctl,  and  all 
tliiH  took  place  while  a  LMi'i'ison  (»f  two  lnnnln-d  and  HI'tv 
men  were  tran(jiiilly  awaitiui;-  oi'dcM'h  in  I'oit  (iarry. 

As  UHual,  ( )ninj4i'  riotc'i*s  were  not  troubled;  tlie  (tov- 
eriinieiit  wh;^  ])oHitiveIy  afraid  to  act. 

I  find  here  room  for  a  little  ej)iKode  which  will  ^ive 
an  i(h'a  of  the  love  and  respect  of  ( )ran<^emen  for  estah- 
lished  institutions  and  laws. 

Dr.  i>ird,  an  lioiioral)le  citizen  of  the  City  of  Winni- 
peg, waK  elected  to  the  Ku-al  Parliameiit  and  eho.seTi 
Speaker  of  that  body.  Dr.  P)ir(l  had  a  large  |)ractice  and 
was,  indeed,  much  esteemed  hy  the  people.  At  ahout  one 
o'cloek  of  the  night,  the  Doctor  was  called  upon  for  a  ick 
man,  residing  ahout  two  miles  outside  the  city  limits.  I  le 
called  his  servant  to  harness  his  horse  to  a  sleigh,  and 
shortly  after  left  alone  on  his  j)rofessional  errand.  The 
man  who  had  called  upon  him  had  left  after  giving 
the  address  of  the  patient.  iVhout  one  nnle  from  the 
city,  the  Doctor  was  stopped  hy  six  masked  men,  who 
violently  pulled  him  out  of  his  sleigh,  undressed  him, 
then  covered  him  with  tar  and  feathers,  and,  after  un- 
mercifully heating  him,  left  the  Doctor  half  dead  and 
lying  in  the  siu>w.  Fortunately,  the  Doctor  was  a  man 
powerfully  constituted  and  of  strong  vital  powers,  he 
succeeded  in  getting  into  his  sleigh  again,  and  was  able 
to  drive  back  home. 

The  day  after,  the  devotees  of  AVilliam  of  Orange 
openly  bragged  that  they  were  the  authort-  of  tluN  cow- 


■  -  64 


t  ■' 


I 

I  f 

■  i 


ardly  act,  wliicli  w  as  committed  as  a  revenge  upon  Dr. 
Bird,  beciuise,  us  Speaker  of  Parliament,  lie  had,  in  the 
exercise  of  his  le^ii.slative  prerogative,  given  his  casting 
vote  again>r  an  ai'bitrary  measure  which  had  been  propos- 
ed bv  the  <  )riuii!:e  members  of  the  same  local  Parliament, 
lionest  and  respectable  citizens  will  see  in  the  above, 
of  liuw  much  fairness,  of  how  much  constitutional  up- 
rightness the  disci|>les  of  Orangeism  are  capable.  Here 
again,  the  Government  crawled  in  his  accustomary  manner 
before  the  brei '  rs  of  the  law,  tlie  prevaricators  of 
constitutional  I'iglits — who  had  outraged,  not  only  a 
private  and  peaceful  citizen,  but  a  dignitary  who  was  the 
chosen  of  the  people  for  the  discharge  of  one  of  the  most 
important  ofHci.*;-  I.'iiown  to  the  J^ritish  crown. 


After  ihe  (bnitli  of  the  much  regretted  Sir  George  E. 
Cartiei-,  Kiel  was  again  re-elected  by  ac^clanuition  for  the 
same  county  of  Pi-ovencher,  but,  as  I  have  mentioned 
before,  he  coni  I  not  take  his  seat,  simply  because  Orange- 
men were  opjxiscd  to  his  [)resence  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  the  (lovernment  was  too  cowardly  to 
sustain  lilm  in  his  rights. 

ARBITRARY  JUDICIAL  DECISION. 

( )u  ihe  loth  of  October,  without  the  slightest  motive 
or  reason,  Kiel  was  declared  an  outlaw  bv  the  Court  of 
Queen's  Ik'ncli  of  Manitoba. 

I  dny  any  li\ing  man   to  bring  forward   any  argu 


■■>/.  .•■s;-'v    t    ■ 


Joseph  Norhkri   Ai.frki*  rK(jvFNcinR. 


^■rfr.f^m^'-  -  -•^■-■M    . 


t   i 


—  ( 


)r> 


inent  that  can  juBtify  such  a  severe  Rtcp  on   the  part  of 
justice. 

Yes,  there  was  one  reason  for  tliat  nn(|naHfied  decision 
of  tlie  Conrt — only  one:    Kiel  was  a  Frencli  Ilalf-broed. 

ANOTHER  AMNESTY,  BUT  CONDITIONED  ON  EXILE. 


On  the  12th  of  F\^hrnarA%  1875,  another  amnesty  was 
issued  Ib  favor  of  Iviol  and  Lopine,  on  condition  that 
they  would  leave  the  Province  of  IVfanitoba  for  five  years. 

After  residing- for  ii  while  in  the  J^rovince  of  Quebec, 
Kiel  traveled  in  the  Ignited  States,  and  he  finally  settled 
in  Montana  in  1871).  where  he  snc(!eeded  in  tindin":  a 
position  as  teacher  in  an  industrial  school. 

In  1881,  Eiel  married  Miss  Marguerite  Bellehumeur, 
the  daughter  of  a  French  Metis  living-  near  Fort  Elliot. 
The  four  years  that  followed  his  marriage  were  undib- 
turbed  years  of  happiness  for  the  Metis  patriot,  who,  al- 
though quite  young,  had  already  experienced  man's  bitter 
cruelty  and  persecution. 

Loved  and  respected  by  all  those  who  approached 
him,  or  lived  near  him,  he  soon  succeeded  in  a'ainini; 
great  popularity  among  his  new  neighbors.  They  knew 
of  his  ao'itated  and  tormented  life,  and  they  had  an  op- 
portunity  to  see — notwithsta'.ding  all  the  hatred  he  had 
been  subjected  to — that  Ik.  wa>  really  \V(.rthy  of  the 
deepest  sympathy  and  respect. 

They  saw  in  the  man  who  had  been  treated  like  the 


—  nn  — 

vilest  criminal,  a  model  son,  a  loving  and  devoted  hus- 
band, and,  later  on,  a  fond  and  affectionate  father.  They 
had  heard  that  Kiel  was  an  excitable  and  hot-headed 
revolutionist,  bnt  since  he  had  joined  their  community 
he  had  always  shown  the  greatest  obedience  to  the 
established  laws  and  a  strong  liking  for  peace  and  order. 

They  knew  that  this  man  had  been  banished  from  his 
native  country  hke  a  despicable  renegade,  but  from  the 
day  of  his  arrival  in  their  midst,  he  had  proved  to  be 
possessed  of  the  soundest  and  purest  religious  principles. 

The  years  1881,  1882,  1883,  188-1  and  the  beginning 
of  1885  formed  the  happiest  epoch  of  Kiel's  life. 

Far  from  all  outside  iniiuences,  he  devoted  all  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  family,  and  to  the  duties  imposed 
upon  him  by  his  position  as  a  teacher. 


WHAT  LED  TO  THE  REBELLION  OF  1885. 

From  1875  188-1  a  great  number  of  French  Half- 
breeds,  dispose*  ^  jd  of  their  lands  by  the  speculators  who 
had  infested  iJianitoba  during  these  nine  years,  left  the 
Province  for  the  Saskatchewan,  and  established  them- 
selves in  that  new  territory. 

There,  the  persecution  they  liad  experienced  in  Mani- 
toba continued  more  lively  thaii  ever.  Those  of  the 
Metis  who  hud  taken  a  homestead  wherein  to  place  their 
families,  were  driven  out  by  people  who  pretended  they 


—  r,7  — 


*5 


had  re<^ularly  purchased  the  same  properties  from  the 
authorities  i!i  Ottawa  or  Winnipeg. 

Half-breeds  were  pursued  and  chased  from  phice  to 
phice,  and  tliey  were  soon  obliged  to  Hve  wherever  tliev 
eonld,  under  tents  or  wigwams. 

Poverty  and  starvation  soon  overtook  the  oppressed 
population,  while  speculators  were  getting  wealtliy,  and 
building  comfortable  houses  and  opulent  establishments. 
These  poor  victims  of  rapacity  and  extortion  were  living 
with  their  wives  and  children  as  well  as  they  could. 

It  has  often  been  said  in  the  United  States  that  one 
of  the  blackest  spots  in  American  history  is  the  way  in 
which  Indians  were  treated  through  the  cupidity  of  venal 
Indian  agents. 

The  extortions  perpetrated  openly  'n  the  Saskatchewan 
by  Upper  Canadians  and  Englishmen,  will  leave  u])on 
their  name  an  indelible  stigma  of  abject  knavery  and 
sharp  practice.  The  Ottawa  Government  was  often  in- 
formed throuii'h  reliable  sources  of  all  that  was  g-oiiiir  on  in 
the  North-west,  but  never  ])aid  the  slightest  attention  to 
the  warnings. 

Prominent  people,  conscious  that  a  threatening  storm 
was  fast  approaching,  implored  the  Ottawa  ('al)inet 
to  take  immediate  measures  foi*  the  relief  of  the  much 
abused  and  starved  pojnilation  of  that  part  of  the 
Dominion. 

The  guiltv  indifference  shown  bv  Sir  John  A.  Mac- 
Donald  and  his   Cabinet  towards  Manitoba  and  the  Sas- 


—  (1.^ 


katchowan  ftince  1ST8,  iiad  often  aroused  tlie  indignation 
not  onlv  of  tiie  French  llalf-breeds,  but  of  the  entire 
population  of  the  two  Provinces  as  well.  The  Provincial 
governments  were  often  called  upon,  to  remonstrate  with 
the  Canadian  Ministers  for  their  unqualified  neglect  con- 
cerning the  affairs  of  the  North-west  territories. 

Deputations  were  often  sent  to  Ottawa  and  returned 
pacified  with  promises. 

But  these  promises  were  forgotten  as  soon  as  made. 
No  longer  than  one  year  ago,  the  agitation  in  Manitoba 
became  somewhat  alarming. 

Indignation  meetings  were  held  in  which  the  question 
of  annexation  to  the  United  States  was  seriouslv  discuss- 
ed.  The  Honorable  John  Norquay,  Prime  Minister  for 
the  Province  of  Manitoba,  was  sent  to  Ottawa  with  an 
ultimatum  addressed  to  the  Cabinet,  and  came  back  partly 
satisfied  that  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  would  at  last  do 
something. 

As  yet  I  fail  to  see  what  has  been  done,  but  as  the 
last  rebellion  has  absorbed  the  whole  Dominion,  since  its 
beginning  (March,  1SS5)  the  local  governments  of  the  two 
North-western  Provinces  seem  to  have  forgotten  their 
griefs,  for  the  time  being. 

In  January,  1SS4, 1  met  two  gentlemen  who  had  just 
returned  from  Tvegina  and  Winnipeg.  They  assured  me 
that  no  ]^en  could  describe  the  state  of  things  in  the 
North-west.  The  suffering  and  misery  of  the  Half-breed 
popuIatioTi  wore  beyond  description. 


G9 


People  were  actually  in  a  starving  coudition  and  at 
the  mercy  of  the  Mounted  Police  force  and  the  mercan- 
tile element.  Provisions  and  supplies  of  all  kinds  were 
sold  at  exhorbitant  prices,  and  the  treatment  of  the  French 
Metis,  at  the  hands  of  the  authorities,  was  something  atro- 
cious. 

They  condemned  most  bitterly  the  criminal  indiffer- 
ence of  the  Government  officials  and  jirophesied  an 
imminent  and  terri])le  outbreak. 

These  li^entlemen  were  sincere  in  their  statements ; 
Europeans  by  birth,  and  free  from  all  partisanship,  the 
impartiality  of  their  judgment  cannot  be  questioned. 

RIEL'S  HAPPY  HOME  IN  MONTANA. 


In  1884,  Kiel  was  living  happily  in  the  midst  of  his 
family,  in  Montana.  For  three  yeavs  he  had  carefully 
kept  himself  aloof  from  political  circles.  God  had  bless- 
ed his  marriage  and  had  made  him  the  father  of  two 
beautiful  children. 

The  love  he  bestowed  upon  his  wife,  his  son  and  his 
daughter  won  the  admiration  of  all  who  knew  him.  The 
man  whose  heart  had  been  convulsed  by  an  agitated  life 
was  gradually  recuperating  under  the  unbounded  attach- 
ment and  devotion  of  tlie  young  wife  who  had  Miade  him 
twice  a  father. 

Ue  had  forgotten  his  past  sufferings  and  tlie  persecu- 
tions he  bad  endured  for  the  sake  of  his  country  and  the 


70 


welfare  of  his  people.  Between  the  love  of  his  wife  and 
the  smiles  of  his  infant  ehildren,  he  allowed  himself  to 
hope  that  at  last  the  stormy  days  were  over  for  him,  and 
his  «oul  was  tilled  with  m  ;')tir'  r  co  \fidence  in  the  mercy 
and  jiroteetijn  of  heaven. 


R/EL'S  PERSECUTED  COUNTRYMEN  UEG  FOR  HIS  AID. 


In  flune,  iss-i,  Kiel  was  visited  by  some  influential 
Metis:  (la])riel  Dumont,  Moise  Ouellette  and  two  or  three 
others.  Thes''  men  had  travelled  nearly  fifteen  hundred 
miles  to  see  him. 

They  told  him  of  the  })overty  ai  d  misery  of  his  llalf- 
hreed  brothers  in  the  Saskatchewan  ;  of  their  treatment 
at  the  hands  of  the  Government  employees ;  of  their 
starving  condition  ;  of  the  insolence  and  cruelty  of  the 
Ontario  speculators,  who  had  wrongly  and  unlawfully 
disj)osses8ed  of  their  lands  a  great  number  of  Metis. 

They  warndy  appealed  to  his  patriotism,  to  his  well- 
known  love  for  his  race. 

Kiel  listened  to  them,  lie  deeply  sympathized  with 
all  they  said,  but  he  spoke  of  his  determination  not  to 
take  any  further  part  in  i)olitics.  His  past  experience 
had  been  too  severe  a  lesson  for  him. 

(xabriel  Dumont  told  him  that  their  sutt'ering  brothers 
had  no  one  else  but  him  (Kiel)  to  place  at  their  head 
and    to    insist    upon   the    (iovernment    redressing  their 


wrongs. 


—    1 


1  — 


lie  a))pealL'(l  to  liis  well-known  nohleness  of  heart : 
'*Oiir  fiiMiilies  are  without  bivad,"  said  Duiiiont  to  Riel. 
"  Tlie  Mounted  Police,  instead  of  j)roteetin^  ns  apjainst 
the  rajjaeity  of  Ontario  inmnVrants,  have  joined  the 
conspiracy  a<>;ainst  our  traiKjuility.  Our  wives  and  our 
dau<!;hters  are  daily  iiisulteil. 

"  There  is  only  one  voice  that  can  gather  our  dispc  ed 
po,pulation,  and  that  "  oice  is  yours. 

''  There  is  only  one  man  anionic;  us  who  can  fc;V  the 
Government  to  listen  to  our  just  claims,  that  tnan  is  ^■/u. 

'•You  cannot  refuse  to  join  us;  your  int*  'l^ence, 
your  ener<;y,  your  influence  heloiif?  to  our  unfortunate 
race.  To  abandon  us  at  this  moment  would  he  a 
cowardly  act."" 

THE  VOICE  OF  PATRIOTISM. 


Kiel  reflected  a  lon^  time,  and  yieldinij:  at  last  to  his 
friend's  entreaties,  he  decided  to  join  his  peo])le  and  to 
battle  once  more  for  their  rights. 

Innally,  this  nobb  and  disinterested  man  had  in  his 
patriotic  heart  the  heroic  courage  to  part  from  a  be- 
loved wife ;  and,  the  day  following  the  visit  of  his 
supplicating  countrymen,  he  tore  himself  from  the  caresses 
of  his  children  and  the  home  where  lu'  IishI  been  so  happy. 

It  has  been  said  that  Kiel  was  insane ;  if  so,  his 
insanity  was  certainlv  of  a  sublime  nature  I 


-72 


AN  HISTORICAL  COMPARISON. 


>i 


.1 


Ilis  sclt'-iibnc^^ation  wari  most  stoical,  and  of  the  same 
(walteul  kind  as  tliat  wliich  made  of  (teorife  Wasliintrton 
the  father  of  his  countrv. 

The  (h'sj)otism  and  oj)|)ressi()n  inflicted  by  the  Kii^li&h 
(lovei'nment  uj)(>n  the  American  colonies,  bef(H*e  177<>, 
were  tlie  chief  motives  of  that  »i;igantic  nj)risin^-  which 
madi;  of  the  I'nite*!  States  of  Amei'ica  the  sacred  land  of 
libertv  and  one  oF  the  L^reatest  countries  on  earth,  it 
was  also  the  nei'secntion  and  tvrannv  of  I'Jii^land's 
hirelings  towards  French  ilalf-brecMls,  that  started  tiic 
insurrections  of  1800  in  ]\Ianitoba  and  of  18S5  in  the 
Saskatchewan. 

Had  Washington  faihMl  to  acc-omplish  his  noble  and 
laudable  object,  and  had  he  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
I^ritish  authorities,  he  would  have  monnte<l  tlie  scaffold 
as  Kiel  did  at  Uegina. 

Had  l^iel  succeeded  -  a>  ;ii  one  time  he  came  so  near 
— in  forcing  the  Dominion  Government  to  come  to 
terms,  and  resi)ect  \\ii^  rights  of  the  Ilalf-breeds,  he  would 
have  been  called  the  Libeiator  of  his  countiw. 

AVasln'ngton  was  a  successful  hero,  and  the  founder  of 
the  American  Nation  ;  h(»n(»r  Xo  his  memory  I 

Ihit,  as  the  name  of  Washington  will  live  foivver  in 
history  as  the  fathei-  of  the  great  xVmerican  ])eoj)le.  that 
of  Louis  D^^yid  Kiel   will  exist  eternallv  in  Fi'cnch  ('ana- 


-  73  — 

(Han  hearts  as  that  of  tlie  lu-roic.  uiartyr  who  fell  l)ravoly 
and  noblv  for  the  Hucivd  cauf^e  of  his  country  1 


CONSTITUTIONAL  AGITATION  AND  THE  RIGHT  OF 
PETITION  MET  BY  MUSKETS. 


1 


i'{)\\\   . 


hilv.  1^S4.  to  Miircli,  1.SS5,    Kiel   travcilod  al 


over  the  coiiiitry,  and  often  addiVhsed  the  French  llalt- 
l)reeds  at  ])iil)li('  meetings. 

lie  then  realized  that  the  reports  he  iiad  heard  about 
the  sad    state  of   affairs  anion^  Ins   people  had  not  been 


ei:au;i:'era 


ted. 


Petitions  wei-e  sent  to  the  ( 'nnadian  Cabinet,  and  were 
treated  with  the  same  disdain  and  insidtini;-  indifference  as 
those  sent  in  ISOH. 

The  (iovernnienr  answered  by  increasing- the  strenpjth 
of  the  Mounted  PoHee  force. 

On  the  "iotli  of  March,  a  private  dispatch  came  from 
Albert,  and  aimounced  that  the  insurrection  was 


r 


nnce 


inevitable 


The  (lovernment  denied  the  fact. 

On   the    '2M    of    March,   another  dispatch  came  from 


the  same  source  s 

Aij^ain  the  Oovernment  origans  ])u 


tatinu'that  the  rebellion  had  commenced. 
Idished  an  official  denial; 


but    troops   were   immediately  sent  from    Winnipeg   to 
Prince  Albert. 


'4  — • 


THE  INSURRECTION  OF  1885. 

This  last  rehi'llion  may  Ih'  simmicd  up  as  followB: 

J II  Maicli,  Major  Crozicr.  of  the  Mounted  INdice 
foree,  went  to  Duke  Lake,  accompanied  by  liis  artillery, 
and  seciii'ed  l»y  force,  from  the  Metis,  a  lar^e  quantity  of 
oats,  tins  commenced  the  hostilities. 

On  the  lid  of  April,  the  massacre  hy  Indians,  at  Fro^ 
Lake,  occurred;  from  April  24th  to  May  Sth,  sericnis 
en;::a^enients  t(»ok  place,  and  on  May  1  1th,  the  last  hattle 
was  fought  at  Hatoche. 

On  the  l.'ith  of  May,  Kiel  surrendered  himself,  and 
eight  days  after,  he  was  imprisoned  at  Kegina. 

On  tlie  2t>th  of  'Inly,  Itiel  was  tried  hy  Judge  Iviehard- 
son,  and  pronounced  guilty  hy  a  jury  of  six  Knglish- 
men. 

On  August  1st,  he  was  sentenced  to  death,  the  execu- 
tion to  take  place  on  the  ISth  of  Se])tend)er. 

His  app(!al  was  rejected  on  the  10th  of  the  same 
month  hy  the  Court  of  the  Queens  Bench  of  Manitoba. 

And  finally,  after  four  reprieves,  the  sentence  was 
executed  on  the 


Ifitli  of  November,  1885, 
at  8.23  A.  M. 

Sheriff  (/hapleau  superintending  the  execution. 


'5  — 


I  shall  not  atteiMi)t  to  oxpruss  my  perHonal  feeliugH 
about  this  execution,  wliicli  liaH  nu't  vvitli  tlie  pn»teHta- 
tions  of  niillioUH  of  Cliristiaurt,  I  will  Kiinj)!;'  publish  tlu' 
opinion  of  tlie  press  on  this  ujouniful  alTair. 

The  extracts   of  newspapers  that  foUow,  inw  only  a 

fetr  rtf/ioiKj  fhnu.sa/uh  that  have  energetically  condemned 

the  conduct  of  Sir  .lohn  A.  Mac  Donald  and  his  (\al)inet. 

The  few  commentaries  I  reproduce  will  speak  for 
themselves,  and  will  prove  to  my  readers  that  the  exe- 
cution of  Itiel  has  aroused  universal  indignation. 


■  i 


\ll 


OPINION  OF  THE  PRESS. 


Before  the  Execution. 


III. 

OBSTINACY  IS  NO  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  HONOR. 

That  Kiel's  people  had  luiich  to  ecjiiiplaiii  about  is 
clear.  They  had  been  elieated,  just  as  we  have  cheated 
oiir  Indians  time  and  again.  They  were  happy  and  pros- 
perous before  the  railroad  was  projecied.  Then  came  a 
train  of  persecntions,  of  wrongs,  of  misrepresentations, 
until  the  Indian  found  that  he  was  not  wanted.  He  was 
sore,  restless,  angry,  revengeful.  He  felt  fur  his  knife; 
he  took  down  his  gun.  His  j)etitiotis  weiit  into  the  waste 
basket.  He  was  ixothing  but  an  Indian.  Then  he  showed 
that  an  exasperated  Indian  knows  how  to  kill  his  enemy. 
The  white  man's  persistent  injustice  was  the  cause  of  the 
n prising      Of  that  there  is  no  doubt. 

The  first  duty  of  the  i»'overnment  is  to  face  this  fact. 
It  is  puerile  to  condemn  Kiel,  then  to   respite   him,  and 


—  ,SU  — 

tlieii  to  respite  h'un  again,  and  now  to  respite  him  a  tliird 
time.  That  is  cruelty  not  to  he  endured  hv  a  civiHzed 
connnunity.  Sir  Jolni  is  in  a  had  predicament;  hut  if  he 
has  tlie  courage  of  liis  convictions  he  will  not  hang  Riel, 
01)stiiiacy  is  no  suhstitute   for  lionor   in    tlicsc   times. — 


THE  AMERICAN  VIEW  OF  THE  RIEL   CASE. 


The  (Jerdral  Lmv  JovriKih  of  St.  Louis,  very  perti- 
nently asks,  says  the  jS\  Y.  //  rahl :  "  W^hat  would  an 
American  lawyer  think  of  trying  a  citizen  for  the  crime 
of  murder  oi-   treason   hefore  a  r-ourt  (*om])osed  of  two 


ithoiit 


anv 


justices  ot  the  peace  and  a  jury  ot  six  nuui,  wi 
indictment  hy  a  grand  jury,  hut  on  a  more  'charge'  made 
not  even  under  oath  V  This  question  put  hy  a  represen- 
tative law  periodical  carries  its  own  answer.  To  an 
American  lawyer  or  an  Aniei-icnn  citizen  the  trial  of  Kiel 
stands  out  as  a  mockery  of  justice  and  his  sentence  as  a 
grievous  wrong. 

It  may  fnrthe'-  lie  asked  :  Wlmt  will  he  said  of  Sir 
John  ^vLacDonald  if  he  seiids  Kiel  to  the  gallows  after  such 
a  pretence  of  a  trial,  in  the  face  of  the  jury's  recommen- 
datior  to  mercy,  and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  tlie  prisoner 
is  meii';i!lv  i"resi)onsihlc^  He  cannot  do  this  without 
committing  "n  irretrievahle  political  hlunder  and  sanc- 
tionli'L';  .I'j  ::Ci  ■''■  gross  injusti -e. 

Th<   v^'ijt^jmcnt  and  o^jinion  of  this  country  are  against 


i'j 


;^ 


I 


—  81  — 

the  hanffin":  of  Kiel  because  lie  has  not  had  such  a  trial 
as  every  accused  person  is  entitled  to ;  because  the  jury 
recommended  him  to  mercy  ;  because,  being  of  unsound 
mind,  he  is  not  criminally  responsible,  and  because  it  was 
only  by  a  violent  stretch  of  the  law  that  he  could  be  tried 
for  treason.  The  view  taken  in  the  United  States  is  un- 
biassed and  disinterested.  Sir  John  may  well  adopt  it  as 
a  safe  guide  of  action. 

RIEL'S  BLOOD  WILL  BE  ON  SIR  JOHN'S  HANDS. 

We  think  that  Sir  John  wishes  to  save  the  neck  of 
Kiel.  He  knows  that  he  is  a  crank.  He  knows  that  a 
million  and  a  quarter  of  Frenchmen  believe  this  and  are 
pleading  for  mercy.  Why,  then,  does  he  not  at  once 
commute  his  sentence  ?  Because  the  Orangemen  of 
Ontario  are  determined  that  Riel  shall  be  hanged.  They 
hate  Kiel's  French  blood ;  they  hate  Kiel's  Catholic 
religion.  They  are  bound  to  compel  Sir  John  to  e>.  ite 
him,  and  threaten  the  loss  of  their  political  influen  if 
he  refuses.  Popular  feeling  in  the  Provinces  is  the -of  ore 
running  high.  The  people  are  becoming  dauL-  rously 
explosive  in  their  expressions  of  02:)inion.  A  ju-rfect 
cyclone  of  excitement,  according  to  our  Montreal  cor- 
respondent, is  gathering,  which  Sir  John  will  be  powerless 
to  control. 

If  Sir  John  is  a  large  man  and  a  brave  man  ,i?id  a 
just  man,  Kiel  will  not  be  hanged  on  Monday.     If  he  is 


H 


82  — 


hanged  his  blood   will   be  on   Sir  John's   hands . . . . — 
N.  Y.  Tleralcl. 

And,  latcM'  on,  we  read  in  the  same  paper  : 

The  Province  of  Quebec  is  wikl  with  excitement.  It 
is  better  to  allay  than  to  still  further  rouse  that  excite- 
ment. Not  to  hani;'  IJiel,  who  can  be  imprisoned  for 
life,  is  more  judicious  than  to  kindle  the  hostility  of  a 
million  and  a  cpiarter  of  the  Queen's  subjects  by  hanging 
him.  Iliel  is  nothing ;  the  welfare  of  the  Dominion  is 
everviiiini]:. 

We  learn  by  Mackay-Bennett  cable  this  morning 
that  an  attempt  is  being  made  to  petition  the  Queen  in 
Kiel's  behalf.  A  ])ctition  has  also  been  «p?it  to  Lord 
Lansdowne.  Sucli  suc-or  comes,  however,  too  late.  Still, 
it  confirms  the  })osition  of  the  Herald — that  Kiel's 
crime  should  be  classed  as  a  political  offence,  and  is  not 
punishable  by  death. 

If  Sir  John  hangs  Kiel  he  will  deserve  the  contempt 
of  the  civili/ed  world. 

NOTHING  GAINED  BY  HANGING. 


The  Canadian  (4overnment  will  accomplish  nothing 
by  hanging  Iliel.  Treason  may  be  made  odious,  but 
clemency  is  the  best  agent  that  can  be  used  against  the 
rebellious.  Queen  Victoria  might  exercise  the  royal 
prerogative  to  good  purpose  and  cable  a  pardon.     It  is 


—  83  — 

not  E,iel,  but  the  cause  he   espoused,  that  appeals  for 
consideration.  — Baltimore  TimeH. 

"I   WISH    TO   GOD   I   COULD   CATCH   HIM!" 

To-morrow  we  sliall  know  M'liether  Sir  .Tolm  Mac- 
Donahl  is  a  statesman  or  a  mere  politician  ;  whether  he 
has  concluded  to  execute  Kiel  in  order  to  purchase 
popularity  with  the  Orangemen,  or  to  do  right  though 
the  heavens  fall. 

Sir  John,  it  will  be  rememhered,  said  some  time  ago 
of  Kiel:  "I  wish  to  (Jod  I  could  catch  him  I "  This, 
however,  is  not  the  time  for  a  great  man  to  :ake  revenge 
on  a  poor  crazy  IIalf-l)reed.  The  question  of  life  or  death 
ought  to  be  settled  by  the  verdict  of  the  jury,  and  that 
contained  a  recommendation  to  mercy.  Sir  John  should 
not  forget  this  fact,--iy.  Y.  Herald. 

CANADA    STATESMANSHIP  AT  FAULT. 


mm 


It  is  impossible  to  regard  Kiel  as  an  ordinary  crimiii.al, 
as  merely  a  malefactor  v.  ho  is  about  to  pay  with  his  life 
h's  offences  aijainst  the  criminal  law  of  the  land.  lie  was 
the  representative  and  leader  of  a  great  number  of  men 
who  felt  and  believed  that  they  had  just  cause  of  com- 
plaint, and  that  Kiel  was  doing  no  more  than  any  other 
man  sutferlng  under  bad  laws,  and  bad  practices  under 
bad  laws   would  have  done  under  like  circumstances.  To 


—  84  — 

han<^  Kiel  will  be  to  make  a  martyr  of  liim,  and  now  is 
not  the  time  to  hold  any  one  np  to  view  in  the  Dominion 
as  ail  innocent  snft'erer  for  political  olTcnccs.  Tt  does  not 
require  a  very  hi<^li  order  of  statesmanship  to  see  that 
the  execution  of  Kiel  will  he  a  political  blunder  of  the 
first  class,  a*"*^^  yet  the  same  1)limder  may  be  committed, 
because  Canadian  statesmanship  is  not  able  to  treat  with 
common-sense  the  plainest  of  questions. —  Washington 
Post. 

WILL    CANADIANS   SUBMIT  TO  SUCH  AN  ATROCIOUS 

USE   OF  INFLUENCE? 

The  Canadians  are  not  made  of  the  stuff  we  think 
they  are  if  they  tamely  submit  to  such  an  atrocious  use 
of  intluence.  Two  things  are  perfectly  clear — that  the 
jury's  recommendation  to  mercy  should  take  precedence 
of  Sir  John's  private  interests,  and  that  Sir  John  himself 
should  be  held  to  a  direct  responsibility  for  the  outrages 
in  the  Xorth-west.  When  the  case  of  Kiel  has  been  dis- 
posed of  Sir  John's  case  should  come  \x])  for  investi- 
gation. 


'    ? 


JUDGMENT   OF    CIVILIZED   MANKIND    IF   KIEL    IS    HANGED. 

If  it  is  indeed  true  that  Sir  John  Maedonald  and  his 
colleagues  insist  on  sacrifice  without  mercy,  they  may 
make  the  name  of  Louis  Kiel  what  those  of  Louis- 
Joseph    Papineau    and    William   Lyou   Mackenzie  but 


—  85  ^ 

barely  failed  of  beiiii^ — a  name   for  the   foes  of  British 
rule  in  Canada  to  "conjure  with''  forever. 

8IH    JOHN    KESPONSIBLK    FOR    ALL. 

Kiel  should  have  his  sentciioe  coininiited,  and  Sir 
John,  as  the  pi'inie  eanse  of  the  rebellion,  should  be 
recjuested  to  resign  at  once.  Sir  John  may  be  obstinate, 
but  he  has  been  in  the  wront!  for  vears  ;  he  is  in  the 
wrong  to-day,  and  if  he  hangs  Kiel  he  will  hang  him  for 
crimes  for  which  he  is  personally  responsible. — New 
York  Herald. 

MUCH  IN  EXTENUATION. 

There  is  much  of  extenuation  for  the  rebellion  in  the 
condition  of  the  Ilalf-breeds  and  the  treatment  they  were 
subjected  to  by  the  Canadian  government.  This  ought 
to  weigh  with  the  ministry  to  prevent  them  from  com- 
mitting a  cruiie  greater  than  I^iefs.  The  example  of  the 
United  States  at  the  close  of  the  war,  too,  of  which  lead- 
ing republicans  are  especially  proud,  ought  not  to  be  lost 
upon  the  Canadians,  particularly  when,  if  followed,  it 
will  allay  the  race  prejudice  now  manifesting  itself  so 
passionately. — Memphis  Aj^j^eal. 

A  COSTLY  BLUNDER  THREATENED. 

Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  will  make  one  of  the  most 


0 


—  86  — 


costlv  mistalvcs  of  tlic  oeiiturv  if  l»c  lianirH  Itlcl. —  Wash 


O' 


ington  Repuhllcdn . 


HE  WILL  DIE  A  MARTYR. 

He  will  die  ii  iiiartyr  and  Ins  iiiemory  will  ever  be 
eherislied  by  the  jxtor  llall-breeds  whose  eaiise  he 
espoused,  not  suecessfnlly  it  is  true,  but  with  the  convic- 
tion that  riglit  was  on  their  side. — Hartford  Post. 

DEFIANCE  OF  CIVILIZED  SENTIMENT. 


If  his  sentence  is  c;irried  into  effect,  if  Sir  John  A. 
Mac  Donald  persists  in  sending  Kiel  to  the  scaffold,  it  will 
be  in  defiance  of  the  sentiment  of  Americans  and  Eng- 
lishmen.— Boston  Transcrljjt. 


SHORT-SIGHTED  POLICY. 


England  will  show  short  sighted  policy  if  she  hangs 
Riel,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  wise  discretion  will  fin- 
ally decide  to  commute  his  ])iinishment  to  imprisonment 
alone. — Austin  Statesman  (Texas). 

A  SOLEMN  PREDICTION. 

Eiel  is  a  ])oor  creature  who  will  not  be  missed  from 
earth,  but  the  day  of  his  execution  will  be  one  that  the 


87 


(.'tiiiiidiiin 


govern men 


t  will 


lon<X  have  occasion  to  rcrneni- 


ber  a8  one  of  the  most  unfortunate  events  of  its  history 
Mark  the  prediction. -St.  Paul  iUuhe. 


After  the  Execution 


THE  REVIVAL    OF  RACE  ANTIPATHY  IN   CANADA. 

The  circumstances  of  Kiel's  execution,  as  they  are 
described  in  our  special  desi^atches,  sjivs  the  New  York 
Herald^  were  in  luirmony  with  the  coui'se  the  Caiuulian 
authorities  had  pursued  toward  hitn  from  the  moment 
of  his  capture.  lie  was  luuiired  in  u  loft  liirhted  by 
one  small  window,  through  which  the  early  sunshine 
struggled  dimly,  and  by  some  tlickering  candles  in 
the  hands  of  the  ministering  priests.  One  of  them 
chantetl  the  Lord's  Prayer  aloud,  and  the  drop  fell 
between  the  words  "Lead  us  not  into  temptation" 
and  "Deliver  us  from  evil."  No  fiiend  was  suffered 
to  attend  the  victim.     But  though  he  was  solitary  among 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


■^|«<M*uiHilMlllia 


lif 


i  ii 


■\A 


—  88  — 

enemies  he  did  not  falter  in  the  presence  of  death. 
He  kept  the  ])roinise  tliat  liad  been  seduced  from  liim  to 
make  no  "dying  .speech."  Whatever  lie  was  before  those 
final  moments,  in  them  he  was  brave  and  faithful.  Can 
as  much  be  said  of  the  Sherilf,  if  the  report  be  true,  that 
he  accepted  the  services  of  a  man  to  spring  the  trap  who 
solicited  that  base  ofRce  to  gratify  a  personal  malice  ?  Or 
can  as  much  be  said  of  one  of  the  priests  present  on  the 
scaffold,  if  the  report  be  true,  that  he  was  a  secret  agent 
of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  to  shut  Kiel's  mouth  ? 

Well,  the  deed  is  done,  and  the  merciless  government 
of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne  invites  the  judgment  of 
the  world  on  its  wisdom.  Our  prediction  is  that  few 
yeare  will  roll  by  before  those  who  have  done  it  will 
ct)mprehend  and  confess  that  by  converting  Kiel  from  a 
lunatic  to  a  martyr  they  have  long  retarded  the  recon- 
ciliation of  races  and  the  fusion  of  the  Canadians  into 
one  harmonious  people.  Nor  is  the  probability  to  be 
ignored  that  the  hanging  of  Itiel  will  impress  the  present 
generation  of  Canadians  of  French  descent  with  an  un- 
conquerable conviction  that  reconciliation  and  fusion  can 
never  be  accomplished  so  long  as  Canada  remains  a 
British  possession.         .  .         .  .  ... 

What  can  the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne  say  of  his  achiev^e- 
ments  toward  harmonizing  and  fusing  the  (yanadians, 
French  and  English  ?  Tn  answer  to  this  question  see  the 
flags  at  half-mast  and  the  emblems  of  mourning  for  Kiel, 
whose  display  is  described  in  our  special  despatches  from 


—  89  — 

the  principal  cities  of  the  Dominion  ;  and  read  the  sub- 
stantially unanimous  opinion  of  the  million  and  a  half 
Canadians  of  French  descent,  well  and  concisely  expressed 
in  DEtendavd,  of  Montreal : — 

"Kiel  should  not  have  been  haiif^ed.  Because  he  was 
"not  responsible  fur  his  acts.  Hecause  he  had  not  a  fair 
"trial.  Because  the  verdict  of  the  jury  did  not  justify 
"  the  government  in  sii'ninu:  the  warrant  for  the  execution. 
"  And  because  his  crime  was  a  political  offence." 


AN  EXECUTION   WHICH  WILL   TEND  TO  STRENGTHEN 
THE  MOVEMENT  FOR  SEPARATION. 


Dublin,  Nov.  17,  1885. — The  news  of  Kiel  execution, 
cabled  to  Dublin,  Ireland,  has  naturally  excited  great 
feeling  against  the  English  authorities.  Mr.  Gray,  M.  P., 
in  his  newspaper,  the  Freeman^ s  Journal,  says: — 
"Everything  was  done  to  exasperate  the  sympathisers  of 
Kiel.  His  trial  was  a  judicial  mockery  of  which  any  free 
nation  ought  to  be  ashamed.  It  was  not  denounced,  as 
under  any  other  circumstances  it  certainly  would  have 
been,  because  few  had  any  doubt  that  the  (•aj)ital  sentence 
would  be  commuted.  We  cannot  pretend  to  guess  at  the 
policy  which  guided  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  in  hunting 
Kiel  to  death  in  face  of  French  Canadian  opinion  against 
that  course,  and  we  are  mistaken  if  it  does  not  indirectly 
tend  to  strengthen  the  movement  for  separation  whi(.j^ 


H 


t 


—  00  — 

iiiihiential    pajHTS    like    the    Montreal    Ddily    Post  so 
strcMiuoiislv  adv(.»c*ate.'' 

ALMOST  A  SACRED   PERSON. 

The  London  evenin^^  ])res8  is  not  so  bloodtliirsty  about 
Iwiel  as  the  niornini;-  })apers.  The  Pall  Mall  iiazctte 
says  : — The  exeeution  of  political  prisoners  is,  as  all  true 
statesmen  have  taught  \is,  ^vorse  than  a  blunder.  The 
life  of  Kiel  is  in  itself  neither  more  nor  less  valuable 
than  the  sinujle  life  of  anv  of  the  hundreds  who  died  at 
his  biddin<r,  but  a  leader  who  embodies  the  hopes  and 
eonvietions  of  thousands  becomes  almost  a  sacred  person, 
and  the  hani»;man's  touch  revolts  the  feelinij-s  of  his  fol- 
lowers  as  sacrileice  does  the  feeling's  of  the  reliijious.'' 

LOVE  FOR  HIS  COUNTRY. 

The  London  /fr/io,  edited  by  a  member  of  Parliament^ 
concludes  :  ^  Kiel  was  a  weak  and  not  a  very  courageous 
man,  but,  misguided  as  he  was,  we  believe  him  to  have 
been,  like  his  father  before  him — moved  to  play  the  part 
he  did  bv  love  for  his  country.  The  ijovernment  of 
the  Dominion  would  have  stood  better  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world  to-day  had  it  spared  his  life." 

A    NATIONAL   DISGRACE. 

The  Toronto  Glohe  says  editorially: 

"  Another  act  of  the  terrible  trafjjedv  closed  on  Mon- 


n\ 


-91  — 

day  morning,  jiiid  on  tlic  :27th,  it  is  said,  eiirlit  Indians 
will  l»u  hanged.  All  thdsc  horrors  nui:;ht  have  i)een 
avoided  if  Sir  John  A.MaeDonald  had  done  his  duty  as 
Minister  of  the  Interior  and  as  a  Premier  of  CaiuKhi. 
There  would  have  heen  no  rebellion,  and  Canada  would 
have  heen  spared  all  this  dreadful  loss  of  life,  whieh  is 
a  national  disj^raee,  and  whieh  a})pears  to  he  a  national 
judgment.'' 


THE  PRESS  OF  THE  PROVINCE  OF  QUEBEC. 

STRONG    DKNIXCIATION    OK     THK     ACTION     OF     TUK     (JOVKIJN- 
MENT--  A    rOLlTICAL    UM:M)KU. 


That  the  hani^infjc  of  Riel  was  received  with  i::rave 
dissatisfaetion  by  the  majority  of  the  iidiabitants  of  the 
city  of  Quebec  is  undoubted.  The  ])ress  and  the  most 
trusty  public  men  condemn  the  execution  as  being  both 
a  political  blunder  and  a  cruel  crime.  L<  (\iu<i.(Vn  n  of 
Quebec  voices  the  sentiment  of  thousands  (»f  [)ropl(j  in 
the  Province  in  the  followiui;:  editorial : 

"  The  blood  shed  on  the  scafiold  at  Reicina  is  a  bad 
"cement,  and  if  the  confederation  has  luj  other  to  keep 
"it  together,  then  the  gale  which  will  tumble  the  whole 
"fabric  to  pieces  is  not  far  distant.  As  a  young  country, 
"  too,  we  have  set  to  the  world  the  bad  examj)le  of  punish- 


—  92  — 


''[ 


i 


ing  with  deatli  that  chiss  of  ofTenccs  known  as  political, 
which  all  other  civilized  communities  condone ;  a  coun- 
try, also,  in  which  the  power  of  life  or  death  is  swayed 
by  factions  is  not  likely  to  be  regarded  as  a  safe  or 
desirable  one  to  live  in.  AV^e  are  asked  on  all  hands  : 
'  What  are  the  French  Canadian  Ministers  doing  ? '  Our 
reply  is  short.  Sir  Hector  Langevin  and  Mr.  Chupleau 
have  been  vanquished,  but  they  have  not  deemed  it 
opportune  to  resign.  Whatever  line  of  conduct  they 
followed  their  responsibility  was  immense.  They  have 
chosen  the  line  mentioned.  Their  position  is  exception- 
ally painful  and  difficult.  Let  us  not  repudiate  them 
without  hearing  their  explanations." 


'  II 


M 


V Evenement^  also  of  Quebec,  in  its  editorial  com- 
ments, says : 

"  We  counsel  calmness  in  the  terrible  crisis  which  we 
"  are  traversing.  Calmness  has  an  imposing  power  when 
"it  is  accompaiiied  by  the  determination  to  obtain  justice, 
"  to  avenge  an  outrage  on  the  first  favorable  opportunity. 
"The  future  waited  for  coolly,  patiently,  is  always 
"  pregnant  with  such  op])ortunities.  The  scaffold  at 
"  Regina  is  an  outrage  upon  the  renown  of  the  British 
"  Empire.  E-iel  has  been  executed  against  the  law  of 
"nations,  in  obedience  to  Orangeism,  whicli  puts  in  \>qy\\. 
"to-day  one  of  the  lichest  jewels  of  the  British  crown." 


—  03  — 


La  Prease  of  Montreal  says  of  Ricl : — 

"  He  will  pass  into  the  ranks  of  martyrs  and  become 
"an  object  of  veneration  and  an  example  to  others  eager 
"to  imitate  his  career.  If  he  had  merely  been  kept  in 
"confinement  he  would  have  passed  in  a  few  months  into 
"  obscurity." 

The  Presse  reminds  it^  readers  of  the  monuments 
erected  to  the  victims  of  1S,3T,  while  of  those  who  escaped, 
some  became  higli  public  functionaricvS,  members  of  Par- 
liament, ministers  of  the  Crown,  and  even  received  Eng- 
lish baronetcies,  as  Sir  L.  II.  Lafontaine  and  Sir  Geo.  E. 
Cartier,  for  instance,  who  were  principals  in  the  revolu- 
tions of  1837-38. 

The  Monde,  the  organ  of  Sir  Hector  Langevin,  the 
Minister  of  Public  Works,  who  was  too  cowardly  to 
resign  his  seat  in  the  Cabinet,  citing  the  judgment  of 
Mgr.  Grandin — "  Free,  Riel  is  dangerous  ;  hanged,  his 
name  \vould  be  a  danger" — says: — 

"  These  words  seem  to  strike  the  right  note.  We  are 
"  not  of  those  who  consider  Riel  a  national  hero  or  a  pure 
"  and  disinterested  patriot.  To  our  eyes  the  aureole  of 
"  the  martyr  and  apostle  does  not  radiate  from  his  brow. 
"  But  whatever  may  be  our  conviction  as  to  the  role  and 
"  character  of  Louis  Riel,  we  are  strongly  inclined  to  ad- 
"  here  to  the  opinion  of  Mgr.  Grandin,  that  it  would  have 
"  been  alike  dangerous  to  1  iiig  him  and  to  set  him  at 
"  liberty." 


fclM<it«MM*l«  llllMll 


h  ^  % 


—  94  — 

L  Etendard  of  Montreal  saj's  : 

"On  Novcnihcr  10,  ISflO,  was  the  burial  of  Guibord 
"  in  the  Catholic  Cemetery,  and  on  November  16,  1885, 
"the  hangini^  of  Louis  Riel  at  Ke«^ina.  It  is  suggested 
"  here  that  a  monument  be  erected  to  Kiel,  and  that  the 
"  Quebec  Legislature  vote  a  sum  for  the  maintenance  of 
"  his  widow  and  children." 


M 

If 


VElectein\  the  organ  of  the  Quebec  French  liberals, 
has  the  following: 

"  This  is  for  us  a  day  of  national  sorrow ;  for,  this 
"morning's  murder,  signifies  the  triumph  of  Orangemen 
ver  French  Canadians  and  Catholics." 


;;1 


HIGHLY  IMPOLITIC. 

The  London  DaUij  News  sajs  :  "  As  a  general  rule 
executions  for  high  treason  seem  to  us  highly  impolitic. 
They  invest  the  victim  with  the  halo  of  martyrdom  and 
often  revive  animosities  which  would  otherwise  die 
out." 

THE  TRIBUTE  OF  A  PAID  TOOL. 


The  Quebec  Chronicle,  a  paid  organ  of  the  Ottawa 
Cabinet,  mildly  approves  of  HieFs  execution  as  the  fitting 
termination  of  a  fair  and  0})en  trial  and  a  just  desert  of 
repeated  deeds  of  murder,  bloodshed,  revolt  and  rapine. 


95  — 


THE  PARIS  PRESS. 

LOUIS  RIEL  DKAI)  MOliH  D.VXGKRorS  TII.VN  LOlIS  KIEL  ALIVE. 

Tlic3  Piii'i^j  eorivsj)o!i(U'iit  of  the  N.  Y.  ILvaUl^ 
tele<rr;ipho(l,  on  the  17th  of  November,  as  follows: 

"I  iiiul  that  a  strong  anti-English  feeling  exists  this 
evening  in  all  the  political  parties  here  respecting  the 
execution  of  Kiel.     M.  llochefort  says: 

"  In  assassinating  judicially  the  heroic  chief  of  the 
"  Canadian  ]\[etis,  England  has  not  only  committeo  a  j)oliti- 
"  cal  fault  but  fine  hifdmie.  She  will  discover  too  late 
"that  l^ouis  Kiel  dead  is  infinitely  more  dangerous  than 
"  Louis  Kiel  living." 


THE    HOUR    OF    VENGEANCE. 

The  Figaro  has  the  longest  comments  on  the  case. 
Its  editorial  concludes : 

"  It  is  hardly  probable  that  Lord  Lansdowne,  who  either 
"could  not  or  would  not  pardon  Kiel,  can  understand  the 
"effect  that  will  be  produced  by  the  odious  act  that  he 
'has  sanctioned.  The  Eivnch  ("aiuidians  form  an  im- 
"portant  group  in  the  Parliament  at  Ottawa,  and  his 
"accounting  with  them  must  come  sooner  or  later.  As 
"to  the  Metis  and  Indian  tribes,  they  can,  when  the 
"  occasion  arises,  undertake  cruel  reprisals.  The  savages 
"know  how  to  await   the   hour  of   vengeance,  and  they 


7    >  ^* 


^H'.. 


-  9C  — 


"  will  never  forget   what  occurred   this  morning  at  Ke- 


t( 


gina 


)) 


THE  WEDGE  OF  DISCORD  DRIVEN  DEEPLY  INTO 
THE  BODY  POLITIC. 


'  I 


/  / 


^     i 


The  TeUgrapli  expresses  the  opinions  of  a  large 
section  of  moderate  minds  in  the  community  as  follows: 

"  Thus  ends  the  last  chapter  in  a  checkered  and  stormy 
"  life.  On  its  last  page  the  hangman  has  written  his 
"ignominioiis^Vi/iV,  and  human  justice  is  supposed  to  be 
"satisfied.  It  would  be  well  for  the  Dominion  if  the 
"  volume  really  closed  here  and  could  be  put  away  ever 
"out  of  sight  and  out  of  mind.  Eut  we  fear  that  this  is 
"  an  impossibility.  In  the  eyes  of  thousands — nay,  mil- 
"  lions — not  alone  of  his  fellow  countrymen,  but  of  men 
"  of  all  races  and  climes,  Riel,  the  unsuccessful  rebel,  has 
"  crowned  a  career  of  patriotic  struggle  for  the  rights  of 
"  men  with  the  aureole  of  the  martyr.  In  their  estimation 
"  he  has  died  the  victim  of  a  train  of  circumstances 
"  begotten  of  misgovernment,  religious  bigotry,  national 
"  prejudices  and  revenge,  while  to  make  matters  worse 
"  in  their  opinion  he  has  been  forced  to  the  scaffold  with- 
"  out  the  use  of  those  senses  which  could  alone  justify 
"  the  infliction  of  the  death  penalty  upon  even  the  most 
"hardened  criminal,  thus  adding  a  further  and  still  more 
"  indelible  disgrace  to  the  Canadian  name.  It  will  readily 


Re- 


VV8 : 


•my 
his 
be 
the 
sver 
s  is 
mil- 
neii 
has 
i  of 
don 
ices 
)nal 
Drse 
■ith- 
tify 
(lost 
lore 
dily 


!» 


MAR(2U1S  OF  LANSDOWNK 


(•OVKRXOR    GRNKRAL    of     THK    DOMINION"    OF    CANADA. 


lii 


—  97  — 


"  1)6  poen  that  tlio  prcvaloiioo  of  Huch  a  onrrrnt  of  syin- 
"  p.itlietic  fet'liiii^  with  thn  imfortunato  man  who  HutTcred 
"to-day  Ik  not  the  host  ^iiarantco  in  the  world  for  tlie 
"continuance  of  tliose  hurnionioua  relitions  hctuocn  tlie 
"(litTcrent  elements  and  Provinees  of  the  Confcdi'iation 
"whieh  are  so  essential  to  its  peaec  and  ])ros|)erity.  The 
"wedge  of  discord  has  been,  so  to  speak,  driven  dee|)ly 
"into  the  quivering  flesh  <>f  the  hody  politic,  and  heaven 
"only  knows  where  the  trouble  will  end.  The  execution 
"of  Kiel  nuirks  the  starting  j)oint  on  a  very  perilous  j)ath, 
"with  one  portion  of  the  Canadian  population  regarding 
"the  tragic  event  as  the  tit  conclusion  to  a  turbulent, 
"  murderous  and  rebellious  career,  and  the  other  portion 
"viewing  it  as  the  martyrdom  of  a  hero  and  a  patriot, 
"wliose  o!dy  crime  was  to  have  bei-n  of  their  blood,  and 
"  to  have  loved  his  poor,  down-trodden  fellow  countrymen 
"in  the  North-west  too  well.  It  will  be  admitted,  we 
"  think,  that  the  outlook  for  the  future  is  not  encouraging. 
"A  wound  has  been  sustained  that  will  rankle  and  fester 
"for  years  to  come,  but  let  us  hope  that  calmness,  judg- 
"  ment  and  discretion  may  prevail  with  every  one,  and 
"that  we  may  say,  as  President  Lincoln  said  in  his 
"memorable  speech  at  Gettysburg,  that  'this  nation 
"  under  God  shall  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom,  and  that 
"government  of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the 
"people  shall  not  pjiisli  from  the  earth.'  " 


Il 


—  OS  — 


ill 


Sm  JOHN'S  MOTIVES. 

The  editor  of  tlio  Courrier  ties  Etats-Unis^  of  Nc':v 
York,  denouiK'cs  Sir  John's  roiiduct  in  unsparing  terms. 
"The  circunistiinccs  siirroiindiiii]^  this  ])uliticiil  drama 
have  no  precedent  in  history,"  he  said  to  a  Herald 
reporter.  "  I  cannot  recall  an  instance  in  which  a  sen- 
tence of  death  has  been  cari'ied  out  in  the  face  of  so 
many  and  so  powerful  protests.  It  is  hardly  necessary 
to  say  that  this  execution  was  not  a  punisliment  for 
crime,  as  crimes  of  that  sort  are  not  punished  by 
death  nowadays,  but  a  political  speculation.  And  tlie 
latest  revelations  seem  to  ]irove  that  it  was  an  act  of 
obedience  to  an  irresistible  secret  ])ower,  and  that  Sir 
John  was  bound  to  execute  Riel  in  order  to  ])lease  tlie 
Orange  faction.  If  this  hypothesis  be  true — aiul  it  seems 
to  be  so— the  act  is  even  a  blacker  one  than  it  otherwise 
would  have  been.  It  would  make  Sir  John  not  only  the 
representative  of  an  im])lacable  hatred  between  the  laces, 
but  an  instrument  of  secular  fanaticism.  It  can  be  re.'dily 
seen,  however,  that  Sir  John  would  be  deceived  in  his 
calculations,  and  would  not  receive  as  much  support  as 
he  expected.  Not  only  the  French  Canadians,  but  the 
Irish  Catholics,  will  be  opposed  to  him.  Another  re- 
markable fact  is  that  not  only  was  the  government  very 
strongly  importuned  to  change  the  death  sentence,  but 
the  sentence  itself  w^as  not  justified  by  Kiel's  acts.  The 
jury  saw  that  and  rcconimended  him  to  mercy.     How 


—  99  — 

many  examples  are  there  in  history  of  men  who  have 
taken  up  arms  against  tlie  established  government  and 
received  either  a  pardon  or  a  nominal  punishment  ?  Look 
at  Jeft'ei'son  Davis,  Bazaine,  Arabi  Pacha  or  Cetewayo. 
It  was  reserved  for  the  Canadian  government  to  revive 
this  bai'barous  custom,  which  has  been  condemned  by 
modern  civilization. 

"  That  history  will  reveal  Sir  John's  motives  is  very 
certain.  It  will  then  be  seen  that  not  only  political, 
but  personal  reasons  constrained  him  to  act  in  this 
manner.  It  will  be  said  that  he  felt  his  power  lessening, 
and  found  it  necessary  to  strike  a  decisive  blow  in  order 
to  assure  the  British  government  of  his  devotion,  and 
with  the  ultimate  object  of  obtaining  the  government  of 
the  Indies,  a  peerage  and  a  place  among  the  counsellors 
of  the  Crown." 

WILL  THERE  BE  ANOTHER  INSURRECTION? 


If  the  Canadian  government  could  hang  the  land 
speculators  who  furnished  the  misguided  followers  of 
Riel  with  their  guns  and  ammunition,  they  would  do  a 
good  thing.  It  looks  as  though  the  execution  of  Riel 
might  furnish  an  opportunity  for  speculators  to  get  up 
another  insurrection  before  long,  and  they  may  be  more 
fortunate  in  their  choice  of  a  general. — New  Haven 
Register. 


1       fl  ■       :H 


—  100 


>f  LEGAL  MURDER. 


f  i 


i 


t  1- 


Every  French  Canadian  will  feel  that  a  legal  murder 
has  been  done,  and  the  execution  will  therefore  tend  to 
increase  the  hostility  wdiich  exists  between  this  class  of 
the  people  and  the  other  subjects  of  the  Queen  in  Canada. 
There  were  real  grievances  behind  the  uprising  which 
Kiel  headed,  and  England  could  well  afford  to  show  a 
little  humanity  to  the  unfortunate  Ilalf-breed  leader. — 
Hartford  Post. 

THE  EXECUTION  OF  RIEL. 

Kiel  met  his  fate  bravely,  without  showing  either 
timidity  or  bravado.  His  demeanor  will  doutbless  increase 
the  resentment  which  his  sentence  has  inspired  not  only 
among  the  Half-breeds  of  the  North-west,  but  among  the 
whole  French  population  of  Lower  Canada 

The  appeal  to  Executive  clemency  in  Kiel's  case  owed 
all  its  force  to  the  consideration  that  the  Government  had 
oppressed  and  outraged  the  people  whose  leader  Kiel 
became.  The  rebellion  came  very  near  being  justified 
when  the  Government,  in  consequence  of  it,  took  steps 
to  inquire  into  and  redress  the  grievancetR  of  the  settlers, 
which  it  had  not  taken  before  the  rebellion  broke  cut, 
and  which  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  it  would  ever 
have  taken  but  for  the  rebellion.  With  this  admission 
made,  the  question  for  the  Caadian  Government  became 


—  101  — 

the  twofold  question  wlietlier  Riel  was  so  dangerous  a 
character  that  it  would  not  do  to  leave  him  alive,  and 
whether  the  enmitv  to  the  Government  which  his  execu- 
tion  w^ould  excite  was  so  trifling  that  it  could  safely  be 

disregarded 

The  execution  of  Riel,  followed  by  the  exciteiaent 
attending  the  outbreak  of  smallpox  in  Lower  Canada,  has 
embittered  the  French  population  against  the  English 
more  than  any  other  event  of  recent  years.  The  estab- 
lishment of  friendly  or  even  of  tolerant  relations  between 
the  two  races  will  now  be  extremely  difficult,  and  without 
such  relations  the  lot  of  the  jMinistry,  of  whatever  party, 
will  be  one  of  endless  perplexities. — New  York  Times. 

THE  EXECUTION  OF  RIEL. 


Louis  Riel,  the  leader  of  the  Canadian  Half-breed 
rebellion,  was  hanged  yesterday  at  Regina,  Xorth-wcst 
Territory.  He  had  been  convicted  of  high  treason,  and 
for  that  offense  sentenced  to  death.  During  the  weeks 
that  have  elapsed  since  sentence  was  passed  upon  him  the 
(>anadian  people  have  been  divided  into  two  factions, 
one  clamoring  for  his  blood  and  the  other  protesting 
against  his  execution. 

An  appeal  in  Kiel's  behalf  was  made  to  tlie  English 
government,  but  the  Ministry  refused  to  interfere,  and 
there  has  been  a  similar  division  of  opinion  in  England. 
In  this  countrv  less  interest  has  been  felt  in  the  case 


102  — 


» 

I 

t 

!  / 


II 


than  the  excitement  over  it  manifested  by  some  of  our 
newspapers  would  lead  one  to  believe.  Nevertheless,  the 
general  feeling  has  been  one  of  sympathy  with  the 
condemned  man. 

This  is  due  to  no  conviction  that  Riel  was  right,  or 
that  his  rebellion  was  justified,  but  to  an  aversion  on  the 
part  of  Americans  generally  to  the  infliction  of  the  death 
penalty  for  political  offenses.  This  man,  who  headed  an 
insurrection  in  a  distant  Canadian  Province,  which  at  no 
time  threatened  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  Dominion,  is 
tried  and  hanged  as  a  traitor.  Contrast  this  with  tlie 
conduct  of  our  own  government  which,  at  the  close  of  a 
great  rebellion  that  threatened  its  very  existence,  made  no 
attempt  to  punish  any  of  those  who  had  taken  up  arms 
against  it. 

The  result  in  our  case  lias  been  a  gradual  disappearance 
of  the  passions  of  the  civil  war,  and  the  turning  of  ninety- 
nine  hundredths  of  the  governement's  recent  enemies 
into  stanch  and  loyal  su])poi'ters.  The  opposite  course  in 
Canada  will  make  Kiel  a  martyr,  and  perpetuate  and  widf  n 
the  breach  caused  bv  his  trial  and  conviction. 

We  fear  that  the  Canadian  government  not  only  lacks 
magnanimity,  but  political  sagacity. — JV^ew  York  Star. 


THE  CANADIAN  HANGING. 


The  Canadian  Government  has  executed  Riel  on  the 
gallows.  It  ought  not  to  have  done  so  for  two  reasons. 


—  103 


First,  the  Government,  by  its  offer  to  settle  with  the 
"  rebels  "  in  the  Nortli-wost  Territory  after  the  latter  had 
taken  np  arms,  and  by  its  admission  that  the  Ilalf-breed 
residents  had  been  wronijed  and  were  entitled  to  redress, 
precluded  itself  from  exaetinf,'  the  extreme  penalty  of  the 
law  for  the  offense  and  made  the  hanging  of  the  leader  an 
act  of  ernelty  and  tyranny.  Next,  because  the  mind  of 
the  prisoner  was  evidently  unhinged  and  no  proper 
examination  was  made  to  ascertain  if  he  was  morally 
responsible  for  his  acts. 

The  execution  was  as  impolitic  as  it  M-as  brutal. 
There  is  every  reason  to  sni)pose  that  the  Govei'nment 
feared  the  political  resentment  of  that  jiortion  of  the 
population  which  clamored  for  KieFs  blood.  Perhaps 
it  was  thought  that  the  "  English  "  sentiment  at  home 
would  be  offended  if  mercy  should  be  shown  to  the  victim. 
But  the  anger  of  the  French  portion  of  the  Canadian 
population  is  much  more  likely  to  be  dangerous  than  the 
bluster  of  those  who  would  be  satisfied  with  nothing:  less 
than  the  poor  creature's  death.  It  will  be  surprising  if 
the  (Tovernment  is  not  made  in  the  end  to  see  the  folly 
of  its  course  and  to  pay  licavily  for  its  blunder. 

Kiel's  crime  was  of  course  one  of  a  serious  ch;iracter, 
against  which  a  nation  has  the  right  to  protect  itself  by 
severe  penalties.  But  a  Government's  hands  must  be 
clear  of  injustice  and  the  offense  be  without  justilication 
to  warrant  extreme  measures  in  such  a  case.  If  it  had 
not  been  admitted  that  the   Ilalf-brecds  arc  serious  and 


—  104  — 

cruel  wrong  to  complain  of,  and  if  Ricl  had  l)een  a  man 
of  Bound  mind  and  vigorous  intellect,  the  execution  would 
have  been  justifiable.  As  it  is,  it  was  a  brutal  and 
revengeful  act  and  an  indication  of  cowardice  and  weak- 
ness instead  of  an  exhibition  of  firmness  on  the  part  of 
the  Government. — New  York  World. 

CANADA  REPUDIATES  THE  CRIME. 


[  The  Montreal  Post,  the  representative  organ  of 
the  Irish  element  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  edited  by 
Mr.  11.  J.  Cloran,  whose  talent  is  only  surpassed  by  his 
eidightened  }mtriotism,  has  untiringly  worked  in  the 
good  cause,  and  written,  botli  before  and  after  Riel's 
execution,  some  very  remarkable  articles,  extracts  from 
which  we  should  have  liked  to  make  more  extensive  if 
our  space  was  not  necessarily  limited.] 

"  Louis  Riel,  the  leader  of  two  rebellions  raised  in  the 
interest  of  justice  ajid  right,  and  on  behalf  of  the  oppress- 
ed llalf-breeds  and  pioneer  settlers  of  the  Canadian 
North-west,  was  hanged  this  morning  at  Regina.  lie 
bowed  his  head  to  the  murderous  manipulation  of  the 
hangman  with  as  much  grace  and  fortitude  as  Sir  John 
and  his  colleagues  submitted  with  cowardice  and  pusila- 
nimity  to  the  blood-thirsty  dictation  of  the  Orange  demon, 
which  has  been  seeking  to  destroy  the  chief  of  the  Metis 
during  tlie  past  fifteen  years.  To  the  scandal  of  the 
civilized   world,   and   to   the   injury   of  the    Canadian 


—  105  — 

Confederation,  Kiel  lias  been  made  to  Riifter  for  a  deed 
committed  during  tlie  first  rebellion,  and  for  wicli  he 
was  pardoned  by  the  same  hand  that  to-day  signed  his 
death  warrant.  The  cause  and  the  people  which  Kiel 
represented  made  his  life  sacred.  In  himself  he  may 
have  been  nothing;  and  his  death,  as  an  indivitlual, 
would  not  have  disturbed  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the 
people.  But  Riers  identification  and  association  with  a 
cause,  universally  recognized  to  be  a  just  ono,  gave  him 
that  inviolabilitv  which  modern  civilization  has  decreed 
to  be  the  part  and  right  of  a  political  prisoner.  Our 
government  has  shamefully  and  for  the  basest  of  pur- 
poses violated  that  decree.  And  that  violation  tlie  peoj)le 
of  Canada  owe  it  to  themselves  and  to  the  fair  name  of 
their  country  to  repudiate  and  condemn  by  flinging  from 
power  the  men  whose  hands  are  stained  with  the  blood 
of  Kiel." 

Later  on,  the  Po-'^t,  proofs  in  hand,  exposed  the  machina- 
tions of  Orangeisni  against  Kiel  in  the  following  terse 
manner: 


ORANGEISM    THE    MAIN    FACTOR    IN    KIEL  S    IIANGINO. 

There  are  now  loud  protestations  in  Ontario  that  the 
Orangemen  of  that  Province  did  not  bving  any  influence 
to  bear  upon  the  Government  to  hang  Louis  Kiel,  and 
made  no  threats  against  Sir  John  if  the  execution  did  not 
take  place.  It  looks  as  if  those  who  clamored  for  Kiel's 
death  and  those  who  ordered  it  have  become  frightened  at 


*         1 


IOC  — 


tlicir  own  work.  Tlic  Toronto  ]\[al1  denies  empliatically 
that  there  was  any  demand  for  his  blood  hy  the  Oran^jenien, 
or  that  lie  was  lianged  to  ^\\\t  their  vengeance.  These 
denials  and  protestations  come  too  late.  What  is  written 
in  black  and  white  cannot  be  so  easily  efTaced.  The  fact 
remains  that  Riel  was  bntchered  to  make  an  Orange 
holiday.  We  prove  what  we  say  by  quoting  the  resolutions 
passed  by  Orange  Lodges,  the  speeches  made  by  Orange 
leaders,  and  the  articles  written  by  the  Orange  organ  of 
the  Orange  Association.  J^et  the  Canadian  people — 
English,  Scotch,  Irish  and  French — judge  between  these 
Orange  protestations  of  to-day,  that  they  wanted  none  of 
Kiel's  blood,  and  their  bloodthirsty,  seditious  and  revolu- 
tionary cries  before  the  perpetration  of  the  foul  deed, 
that,  if  Riel  was  not  hung,  "the  day  was  not  far  distant 
when  a  call  to  arms  wonld  resonnd  throughout  the 
Dominion." 

Let  our  readers,  and  all  those  who  are  opposed  to 
Orangeism  and  its  dark  and  evil  doings,  meditate  like  all 
good  Canadian  eifiz-ens  iipon  the  foil oicing  sentiments 
which  prepared  the  vmy  for  the  iniquitous  execution  of 
Louis  Riel :  — 

THE   BLACK   KxNTIGUTS    CONCUR. 

"  At  Peterborongh,   Ont.,   the  following   resolution 
'  was  nnanimously  carried  at  a  meeting  of  the  Black 


107  — 


"  Knights  (»f  Irclaiul  on  Wednesday  evening,  Novemher 
"  nth:  — 

"  '  That,  havini;  lieard  read  from  the  cliair  the  folk)\v- 
"  ing  I'csohitions  passed  hy  Loyal  Orange  Loilge  No.  SO  : — 

"'Tliat  in  the  present  eondition  of  Irehmd,  we  the 
"  assenil)le(l  meinhers  of  L.  O.  I,.  Xo.  SO,  helieve  it  to  l)e 
"  the  duty  of  all  Protestants  to  join  tog(!ther  to  oppose 
'*  the  advance  of  the  so-called  Nationalists  (ParnelHter) 
"  and  to  show  a  united  front  against  sedition  and  anarchy.' 

'"•That  this  L.  ().  L.,  No.  SO,  sees  with  regret  the 
"  ohstacles  that  are  heing  put  forward  to  prevent  the 
"  rebel  Kiel  from  paying  the  just  ])enahy  of  his  many 
'"  crimes  on  the  scalfold,  and  that  this  lodge  is  of  opinion 
"  that  no  further  respite  should  be  granted  him,  but  that 
"  he  should  sutler  the  extreme  penalty  of  the  law  and  be 
"hanged  in  fuJiihnent  of  the  sentence  passed  upon  him.' 

<•(  i  ^^^^  frjyQ  tiiQ  same  our  hearty  commendation  and 
"  support,  and  that  copies  of  this  resolution  be  sent  to  Sir 
'*  John  A.  MacDonald,  the  Oran<je  Sentinel,  the  Toronto 
"  2laU  and  the  local  papers."  " 

Thus  were  the  Orange  lodijres  euf^aged  in  forcing  Sir 
John  A.  MucDonald  to  close  his  ears  to  the  petitions  for 
mercy  which  was  so  strongly  recommended  by  the  jury, 
and  to  practice  a  most  unjiardonable  piece  of  deception 
upon  the  members  of  this  Province,  who  were  previously 
assured  that  KIol's  life  would  be  spared. 

Now,  as  to  the  oratorical  efforts  of  the  Orange  leaders 
to  compel  the  Government  to  yield  to  their  demands  for 


~  108  — 


t; 


ii^ 


i' 


[<< 


'  I 


vengeanpc  and  for  1)1(K)(1.  At  an  Orange  gatlicring  in 
Toronto  on  Nov.  r»tli,  one  of  tliu  speakers  exclaimed:  — 

"  And  sliall  Kiel,  this  arch-rebel,  go  free  whilst  loyal 
"  men  hav(!  stained  tlu?  ground  with  their  blood  to  uphold 
"  tlie  (Queen's  aulhority  ^  Never.  (  Loud  applaure).  A.nd 
"the  sooner  the  (iovenmuMit  of  Sir  John  MacDonald 
"understand  the  true  feeling  of  Orangemen  on  this 
"({uestion  the  better.  I  was  pleased  to  notice  in  the 
"speeches  of  Oounty  ^faster  Somers,  District  Master 
"  Wilson,  and  Hrothers  (Iraham  and  Low,  the  determi- 
"  nation  expressed  that  if  the  Government  allows  Home 
"to  step  in  on  this  occasion  and  secure  a  reprieve  fortius 
"  arch-traitor,  the  ('oiiserviitive  party  can  no  longer 
"  count  on  their  services,  although  they  have  worked  and 
"  voted  for  them  for  many  years." 

That  extract  is  worth  meditating  upon.  It  is  the 
repetition  of  the  cry  that  was  raised  at  all  the  Orange 
gatherings  in  many  parts  of  Ontario. 

(yNjming  down  to  the  otHcial  organ  of  the  Orange  body 
it  will  be  seen  that  that  worthv  iournal  does  not  allow 
itself  to  be  ecli})sed,  although  en  joying  the  calm  and  peace 
of  an  editorial  sanctum,  by  resolutions  or  speeches.  The 
wjck  before  the  execution,  when  there  was  so  much 
uncertainty  as  to  Kiel's  fate,  the  Oramje  Sentinel.,  sj^eak- 
ing  on  behalf  of  the  Orange  Association,  made  a  linal 
appeal,  a  supreme  effort,  to  ]>ut  an  end  to  the  wavering 
of  Sir  John  and  his  colleagues  and  to  settle  the  question 


s 


—  109 


of  hanginp^  Ricl.  Hero  liis  tliat  ofTort  <»f  the  Ovdnrjr 
Sentinel:  — 

"  Sluill  the  atrocious  injustice  he  ('oinniittcfl  of  per- 
''  mittiug  this  artful  ivhel  to  ^o  fi'ee  while  his  dupes  and 
*'  tools — the  unfortunate,  untutored  and  misled  Indians  — 
"  are  handed  for  participation  in  acts  which  they  re_i;ard  as 
"  praiseworthy  and  heroic,  instead  of  criminal^  The  people 
"  of  Canada  will  require  unequivocal  answers  to  these 
"  8trai«^htforward  (piestions,  if  IJiel  he  reprieved  ;  and 
"  the  only  answer  we  judge  that  can  he  truthfully  given 
"  is  that  the  Frenchmen  of  (Quebec  rule  in  the  Dominion 
*'  Parliament,  and  have  vowed  that  not  a  hair  of  liieTs 
"  head  shall  he  harmed.  Was  it  to  this  end,  then,  that 
"  our  gallant  volunteers  sprang  to  arms  and  laid  down 
"their  lives  at  their  country's  call  ?  Shall  Frenchmen 
"  who  sympathise  with  the  rebels  be  permitted  to  undo 
"their  work?  If  so,  let  it  be  known  throughout  this 
"  land.  Let  it  be  proclaimed  that  the  rights  and  liberties 
"  of  Britons  in  an  English  colony  hang  only  U])on  the 
"  breath  of  an  alien  race.  But  English  Canadians  will 
"  not  longer  sulfer  the  galling  bondage  ;  and  the  day  may 
"  not  be  far  distant  when  the  call  to  arms  will  again 
"  resound  throughout  tlie  Dominion.  Then,  indeed,  our 
"  soldiers,  profiting  by  the  lessons  of  the  past,  must  com- 
"  plete  a  work  throughout  the  whole  land  only  begun  in 
"  the  North-west." 

Here  is  a  baiul  of  men  who  call  themselves  loyal 
citizens,  proclaiming  to  the  world  that  if  the  Canadian 


—  no  — 


Hi 


.1    11, 


Government  dared  to  adopt  a  })()li('v  of  clcnifncy,  reeoni- 
monded  hy  Ri(*r8  jury,  dictMted  l»y  Inimanity  and  civiliza- 
tion, and  pctitionrd  forl)y  the  jn'oplf,  tlu'V  would  !iftti»(> 
standard  of  revolt  and  declare  for  civil  war.  Are  these 
the  men  to  rule  this  countrv  and  «;nide  its  dcRtiiiies.  AVe 
say  no!  and  the;  voice  of  the  Doininio!)  will  say  no! 
Oranf^eisn)nnistl)e.s([Uelched. —  The  Mtntf  null  Da'ihj  Post. 


THE  DUTY  OF  THE  HOUR. 


'  'I 


i    ; 


» ■  t 


The  Irish  Catholics  of  Canada  have  in  the  grave  crisis 
through  whicli  this  country  is  passing  a  serious  duty  to 
perform.  The  French  Canadia  ])eople,  feeling  that  a 
gross  outrage  has  heen  done  the  country  in  general,  and 
tlieir  own  race  in  jjarticular,  have  risen  in  their  might  to 
insist  upon  the  obliteration  forever  from  our  politics  of 
that  Orange  influence  which  demanded  and  procured  the 
liead  of  poor  Kiel.  Is  there  aught  of  wrong  in  this? 
Have  ever  people  so  cruelly  outraged,  wronged  and 
insulted,  shown  such  moderation,  such  consideration  for 
the  feelings  of  other  classes,  such  a  determination  to 
proceed  by  jjurely  constitutional  means?  We  have  follow- 
ed with  closest  scrutinv  every  action  and  movement  of 
the  French  people  in  this  crisis,  and  we  stand  to-day,  we 
must  confess  it,  in  ])rofound  admiration  of  tlieir  lofty 
patriotism,  their  noble  self-control,  and  their  unswerving 
loyalty  to  the  constitution.  What  do  they  ask?  Do  they 
seek  the  dismemberment  of  Confederation  ?  They  do  not. 


—  Ill  — 


Do  thcv  Rock  a  war  of  \"acc<  aiid  of  rolii^ion  ?  Thov  «lo 
not.  I)(»  tliov  si'ck  to  estal)lisli  l-'iciich  (Idiniiiatioii  i  'J'hcv 
do  not.     Do  tlu'V  fit'ck  to  n»l)  their  IVott'staiit  or  Kn^'lish- 


HiH'aKinir 


fell 


u\V  ( 


iti/('!is  of  iiiiv  of  tilt!  riu'lits  tlicso  l;itt(>r 


enjoy  iindrr  the  coiiHtitutioii  i  1  liuj  do  not.  What  ia  it 
then  they  do  nook  i  Th(>v  seek  the  destruction  as  a 
political  ])ovver  of  a  faction  wlioso  e.\isteiu'(!  in  this  free 
country  is  a  disgrace  to  the  au^c.  They  Reek,  hy  means 
just  and  fair,  the  vindication  of  their  race,  so  foully 
wrontred  hv  the  killiiitr  of  liiel  because  Ids  death  lias  ])een 


decreed  in  the  secrecv  of  Oraiiire  lodiri' 


T] 


lev  seel 


in 


fine,  the  a(d\no\vled<]^nient  of  tliose  ri<;lits  <jjuaranteed  them 
hy    tlie    constitution,    i)Ut    now    tlu'catened    hv   ()ran<r<i 


violence 


on. 


77i 


hnd 


ay 


•so  nit 
to  come.  Its  results  will,  it  tlie  M-encli  ('anadians 
persevere  in  their  le^al  and  couHtitutional  agitation,  ex- 
hibiting the  same  regard  for  law  and  order  and  for  the 
rights  of  every  otiier  elass  of  the  population,  that  now 
characterizes  tlieir  movement,  be  a  most  happy  one  for 
Confederation.  What  then  should  he  the  precise  position 
of  Irish  (^'atholics  in  this  crisis  i  I'hey  should  not,  in  our 
estimation,  take  part  in  or  encourage  illegal  or  violent 
manifcistations  of  any  kind  calculated  to  incite  class 
against  clash  or  race  against  race.  They  shonld  not 
express  admiration  for  rebels  or  rel)ellions  merely  because 
the  rebels  are  mostly  Catholics  and  the  rebellion  headed 
by  Catholics,  nominal  or  otherwise.  They  must  not  forget 
that  the  Catholic  Church,  as  an  organization,  was  a  heavy 


!lj  11 1' 


1^  M 


I   I.       , 

'     1-     '■  ! 


^1 


—  112  — 

loser  by  Kiel's  uprising — priests  murdered,  missions  laid 
waste,  faithful  and  clergy  dispersed.  But  they  can  lend 
and  will,  we  are  sure,  lend  hearty  sympathy  to  their  brave 
and  patriotic  French  fellow-citizens,  to  whom  the  minori- 
ties in  Ontario  and  the  North-west  are  indebted  for  their 
C'atholic  schools,  to  whom  in  other  regards  the  Irish 
Catholics  of  Canada  are  under  many  lasting  obligations, 
profound  sympathy  in  their  humiliation  and  sorrow.  Nor 
will  they  join,  whatever  their  individual  view  as  to  the 
wisdom  or  unwisdom  of  such  a  course,  in  anv  anti-French 
cry  that  may  be  raised,  if  the  clergy  and  peo])le  of  Lowx'r 
Canada  decide  on  the  formation  of  a  French  national 
party  for  the  giving  of  full  expression  t^)  their  views  in 
the  singular  political  revolution  brought  about  by  Kiel's 
execution.  And  thev  are  heart  and  hand  with  the  French 
Canadians  in  laying  down  and  maintaining  the  principle 
that  Orangemen  must  not,  as  such,  be  permitted  to  ex- 
ercise the  slightest  semblance  of  control  over  the  Govern- 
ment of  this  country.  In  one  word,  let  our  people, 
however  intense  their  feelings,  be  guided  by  prudence 
and  moderation,  heeding  in  all  regards  the  good  counsel 
of  their  clergy.  Every  good  citizen,  be  he  of  Irish, 
Scotch,  English  or  German  origin,  ardently  hopes  for  the 
advent  of  the  day,  when  no  one  of  our  political  parties 
will  feel  tied  down  by  alliance  with  any  politico-religious 
society,  but  when  our  statesmen,  rising  to  the  height  of 
their  position  and  placing  duty  before  expediency,  will 
rule  Canada  for  Canadians,  not  setting  race  against  race, 


—  113  — 

Province  against  Province,  but  striving  by  every  means  in 
their  power  to  build  up  here,  in  this  part  of  the  Northern 
continent  on  the  basis  of  justice,  e(|uality  and  freedom,  a 
new  nation  whose  power  shall  be  the  glory  of  its  people 
and  whose  progress  shall  be  the  admiration  of  the 
world. —  Catholic  liecord,  of  London,  Ontario. 

MISGOVERNMENT  AND  REBELLION. 


he 
lies 

)US 

of 

4II 

ice. 


The  Ministry  will  not  be  allowed  to  avail  themselves 
of  any  side  issue  as  a  nieans  of  escape  from  responsibility 
for  the  evils  caused  by  their  misgovei-nment.  All  the 
bloodshed,  all  the  destruction  of  property,  all  the  waste  of 
public  money,  all  the  sulferings  of  the  Metis,  and  all  the 
ill-feeling  which  tills  the  land,  are  the  direct  results  of 
their  misgovernment.  There  would  have  been  no  rebel- 
lion if  there  had  been  no  oppression,  no  robbery,  no  ill- 
treatment  of  the  honest  and  peaceful  Ilalf-breeds.  Sir 
Alexander  and  Mr.  Chapleau  deny  that  the  Half-breeds 
had  any  grievances  ;  but  such  a  denial  is  })erfectly  futile 
in  view  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Scrip  Commission, 
which  was  set  to  work  the  nK)nient  the  Metis  appeared 
in  arms.  They  had  vainly  petitioned  for  redress  during 
the  past  seven  years.  Their  clergy  had  fruitlessly  appealed 
to  the  Government  on  their  behalf.  These  petitions  kept 
pouring  in  from  every  settlement  in  the  Xorth-west,  and 
demanded  only  simple  justice,  but  they  were  treated  with 
scorn.    An  answer  was  not  even  vcuichsafed.     Instead  of 


-114  — 


\ 


receiving  protection,  Ottawa  kept  on  increasing  the  num- 
ber of  intriuler.s,  until  the  suffering  Half-breeds  were 
driven  from  tlieir  lands  and  their  homes.  Mgr.  Grandin, 
the  vonerable  Bishop  of  St.  Albert,  added  his  influence 
and  efforts  to  the  work  of  trying  to  open  the  ejes  of  Sir 
John  to  the  seriousness  and  gravity  of  the  situation.  His 
Lordship  made  every  effort,  by  voice  and  pen,  to  solicit 
the  Government  to  act  equitably  towards  the  Metis.  But 
to  petitions,  prayers,  letters  and  delegations,  the  Half- 
breeds  received  nothing  but  contemptuous  silence  from 
Ottawa. 

To  use  Henrv  Grattan's  memorable  words  :  "  The  trea- 
"  son  of  the  Ministers  against  the  liberties  of  the  people 
"  was  infinitely  worse  than  the  rebellion  of  the  people 
"  against  the  Ministers."  That  is  tlie  whole  situation  in  a 
nutshell,  and  that  is  the  situation  Sir  John  and  his  Minis- 
ters will  have  to  face  wlien  they  come  to  reckon  with  the 
representatives  of  the  jieojDle,  or,  if  those  prove  false  on 
the  floor  of  the  House,  with  the  people  themselves  at  the 
ballot-box. 

The  wonder  is  that  the  Half-breeds  stood  the  oppres- 
sion so  long  without  taking  up  arms  before  they  did.  A 
Halifax  contemporary,  looking  at  the  sufferings  and  the 
indignities  to  which  the  Half-breeds  were  subjected,  asks  : 
"  Is  there  a  parish  in  Nova  Scotia  that  would  have  toler- 
"  ated  a  similar  outrage  ?  We  thank  Heaven  that  no  body 
"  of  men  so  craven  could  be  found  within  the  limits  of 
"  this  whole  Pi-ovince.  These  men  at  Batoche  stood  to 


\ 


—  115 


"  their  arms,  and  in  a  few  weeks  after  the  first  shot  was 
"  fired  they  had  achieved  everything  for  which  they  liad 
"struggled.  Louis  Kiel  was  but  their  leader-- assuming 
"  the  leadership  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Half-breeds. 
"  Because  lie  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  rebellion, 
"  in  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  to  secure  their  lands 
"and  guard  their  churches  and  tombs,  he  is  sent  to  the 
"  scaffold  as  a  malefactor." 

That  is  the  view  taken  of  the  'ebellion  by  the 
mass  of  the  people.  It  is  common  to  the  entire  Con- 
federation. A  Toronto  contemj^orary  said  that  if  men 
of  Enghsh  blood  had  been  in  a  position  like  to  that 
of  the  Half-breeds,  "  they  woul  have  sternly  appealed  to 
"  the  sword  after  their  petitions  had  been  n 'glected  ;  to 
"  doubt  it  would  be  treason  to  the  most  glorious  memories 
"  of  British  freedom.  From  time  immemorial,  men  of  the 
"English  race  have  been  ready  to  rebel  against  any 
"  authority  not  yielding  quickly  to  their  just  demands; 
"  they  have  been  the  freest  of  men  because  the  most 
"  rebellious."  Justice  consequently  cries  out,  not  against 
the  men  who  fought  for  their  homes,  but  against  the 
Ministers  who  forced  the  rebellion  and  created  it  by  their 
own  criminal  maladministration.  In  fact,  it  may  become 
a  question  of  impeaching  the  principal  ringleaders  in  the 
spoliation  and  oppression  of  the  population  of  the  North- 
west.— From  The  True  Witness  and  Catholic  ChronicU^ 
Montreal,  Canada. 


w 


110 


THE  SITUATION  IN  ONTARIO. 


ii, 


i!! 


!h 


The  Orange  Order  can  lay  no  claim  to  an  exclusive 
monopoly  of  loyalty  ;  the  brethren  are  not  a  whit  more 
loyal  than  others,  who  are  never  heard  bawling  about 
what  they  have  done  and  are  prej^ared  to  do ;  and  as  to 
the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  community,  it  is  a  remarkable 
fact  that  where  the  Orange  element  is  in  the  ascendant, 
there  turjnoil  and  strife  are  certain  to  be  found.  A  poli- 
tical organization  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  its  leaders 
arc  ever  on  the  watch  for  the  "  main  chance  '' — ever  on 
the  look-out  for  ]^o.  1 — and  they  make  the  rank  and  file 
subservient  to  their  own  ends.  Were  they  can  control 
they  make  their  power  felt,  whether  it  be  in  Par- 
liamentary or  Municipal  affairs ;  and  none  can  sliare 
the  boodle  except  those  who  belong  to  the  '"■  lodge." 
A  "  good,  sound  Protestant,"  who  is  not  of  the  lodge, 
may  sometimes  get  at  their  hands  political  preferment ; 
but  the  Papist  has  no  show  whatever.  And  the  worst  of 
it  is,  that  in  many  instances  it  is  the  Pa])ist  vote  that 
secures  power  for  the  Orangeman.  This  may  sound 
strange ;  but  it  is  absolutely  true  that  of  the  sixteen 
Orangemen  of  this  Province  who  now  hold  seats  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  several  so  hold  by  the  good  will  and 
pleasure  of  Catholics.  Yet  the  very  men  for  whose 
return  to  Parliament  Catholics  worked  earnestly  and 
effectively  were  not  ashamed  the  other  day  to  demand  of 


—  117  — 


Sir  Alexander  Campbell  tliar  he  forthwith  cancel  the 
appointment  of  a  Cath.^lie,  which  had  just  been  made  by 
one  of  his  colleagues. 

AVe  think  a  crisis  in    this   matter  lias  been   reached. 
AVhen  weiind  tlie  Catholics  of  Ontario  shut  out  from 
Parliamentary  representation-shut  out   from  Judiciary, 
the  list  of  sheritfs,   of  registrars  and   county  attorneys- 
shut  out  from  the  higher  offices  with  their  ample  salaries  ; 
and  when,  in  addition   to  all  this,   we  find  the   Orange 
serpent  (not  satisfied  with    stinging  the  Catholics  of  this 
Province  whenever  and  wherever  it  could)  attempting  to 
fasten  its  fangs  on  Ireland  through  those  who  are  laboring  in 
hercausehere,  we  see  but  one  course  that  can  be  pursued 
by  any  man  with   an  ounce  of  Irish  Catholic  blood  in  his 
veins.     The  Orangemen  have  shown  that  they  are  our 
implacal)le  foes  ;  and  that   they  are  also  the  um-elenting 
enemies  of  Ireland.     They  have  done  us  all  the  injury 
they  could,  and  will  do  us  more  if  they  can.     Let  us  put 
it  out  of  their  power  to  do  us  further  harm ;  and  let  us 
pum-sh  them  for  the  harm  they  have  already  done  us. 
This  we  can  do  very  easily  and  very  simply. 

When  gentlemen  of  the  Gaskin  type-who  believe 
in  home  rule  for  themselves  but  not  for  others— challenge 
the  Catholic  body  ofT.'usively,  unfairly  and  insultingly, 
the  gauntlet  should  bo  i)icked  up  promptly  and  the  battle 
begun.  In  every  case  where  a  choice  is  nuide  by  ballot- 
be  it  an  election  for  Parliament  or  a  municipal  election— 
the  Catholic  should  be  careful  in  marking  his  ticket.    If 


—  118  — 


V 

! 


there  be  on  the  ticket  the  name  of  a  candidate  who  is  an 
Oranf^enian,  his  obvious  duty  is  to  pass  that  name  by  and 
vote  for  tlie  candidate  wlio  is  not  an  Orangeman,  what- 
ever else  lie  may  be.  A  j)lan  like  this,  ri<;idly  adhered  to 
at  every  polling  booth  in  the  Province,  would  in  a  short 
time  shear  the  meinl)ers  of  the  <  )rangc  Order  of  the  greater 
part,  if  not  all,  of  their  political  strength.  It  would  do 
more :  it  would  teach  them  a  lesson  which  they  would 
never  forget— teach  thon  that  those  wlio  play  with  fire 
run  the  risk  of  being  burned.  The  time  is  opportune  for  a 
test  like  this;  and  we  can  win  if  we  be  but  united.  It  is 
not  a  question  of  politics;  it  is  whether  the  Catholics  of 
Ontario  shall  any  longer  submit  to  the  injustice  and 
indignity  heaped  upon  them  by  a  secret,  oath-bound 
cabal — a  cabal  whose  oath  binds  all  its  members  to  undy- 
ing hostility  to  Catholics  and  their  religion.  Every  Orange 
lodge  in  this  Province  is  the  focus  whence  emanates  the 
decree  wdiicli  rejects  the  Catholics  and  denies  him  parti- 
cipatic  \  in  the  public  life  of  the  country.  We  can  do  no 
less  than  reciprocate  the  kindness  by  voting  steadily  and 
solidly  against  every  Orangeman  who  presents  himself 
for  our  suffrage  till  we  have  seeti  the  last  of  them. — From 
The  Irish  Canadian^  of  Toronto,  Ontario. 


A  FOUL  DEED. 


The  foul  deed  is  done,  another  victim  sacrificed  to  the 
Moloch  of  Orange  hate  —  the  virgin  pages  of  Canadian 


no  — 


annals  reddened  with  blood,  and  the  struetnre  of  Confe- 
deration shaken  to  its  verv  lowest  foundations.  The 
hanging  of  Louis  lliel  and  the  maintenance  of  Dewdney 
in  a  place  he  has  dishonored,  is  the  greatest  political 
blunder  perpetrated  since  Canada  first  entered  on  national 
existence.  The  whole  country  had  just  been  rejoiced  to 
hear  of  the  completion  of  the  Paciiic  llailway  when  this 
sanguinary  deed  was  done  —  dividing  man  fron  num,  and 
setting  citizen  against  citizen.  A  fate  that  l:)ritain,  with 
all  tier  might  and  greatness,  did  not  decree  for  Cetewayo 
or  Arabi  Bev,  has  befallen  the  unfortunate  Chief  of  the 
Metis.  It  is  all  very  well  for  interested  men,  men  who 
hanker  after  the  loaves  and  fishes  of  office,  or  men  now 
in  possession  of  the  fleshpots  of  Egypt,  to  ciy  out  against 
the  infamy  and  the  guilt  of  the  Half- breed  leader.  We 
seek  not  to  extenuate  his  guilt,  nor  to  palliate  his  mis- 
deeds. But  we  do  say  that  if  ever  there  was  a  case  in 
which  ^the  clemency  of^the  Crown  should  have  been 
exercised,  this  verily  was  one.  Kiel  was  tlie  leader  of  a 
people  whom  all  honest  men  admit  to  have  been  goaded 
into  rebellion  by  oopression  as  galling  as  ever  borne,  he 
had  been  tried  by  a  court  declared  by  one  of  the  ablest 
of  Canadian  jurists  — -a  man  who  loved  him  not  —  un- 
constitutional ;  and  then  his  sanity  had  moi'c  than  once, 
and  by  men  of  undoubted  weight  of  charater  and  expe- 
rience, been  called  in  question.  But  still  he  was  hanged. 
Hanged  !  But  not,  mark  you,  readers,  for  his  part  in  the 
late  insurrection  ;  he  was  hanged  because  of  the  execution 


f] 


;  '< 


III   f 


V 


i  ,    ,f 


—  120  — 

of  Scott  at  Fort  Garry  in  187<).  For  this  oriino  he  had 
ah'cady  sufTered  the  severest  of  punishments,  hanisliinent 
from  his  own  conntrv  and  pt'o])]^.  But  the  Orange  A[()h)oli 
would  not  he  satisfie(h  The  lod<;vs,  acting  under  onh'rs 
from  their  leaders  in  Ottawa  and  elsewliere,  sent  tlieir 
ultitnntum  to  the  Rxeeutivn',  and  IJiel's  hlood  has  been 
offered  to  appease  the  monster.  Will  Orangeism  now  he 
satisfied  i  Not  at  aU.  Give  that  foul  beast  hloofj  and  he 
will  demand  more.  Our  Freneli  friends  and  fellowM»itizens 
are  now  ena])led  to  see  the  true  natui-e  of  this  bloody  and 
infamous  Association,  whose  entire  history  is  one  of  murder 
and  violence.  These  are  strong  terms,  but  no  stronger 
than  the  exigencies  of  the  case  demand. 

With  reason  indeed  does  TJEtendard  oi  the  l^th  inst., 
exclaim  :  ''  This  is  a  day  of  sovereign  humiliation  for  the 
"  French  Canadian  race.  In  this  no  mistake  should  be  made, 
"  the  sti<j:ma  of  infamy  that  the  fanaticism  and  cowardice 
""  of  our  enemies  are  to  pi-ess  on  the  brow  of  Kiel  is  designed 
"for  the  ignominy  oi  a  whole  ])eopl('.  AVhen  will  the  day 
''of  retribution  come  ^  This  (juestion  will,  we  know,  meet 
"  with  Orange  laughter,  because, forages, their  executioners 
"  have  made  political  martyrs,  and  yet  they  revel  with  im- 
''  puuit}"  in  blood." 

"  Whatever  the  result,  let  us,"  adds  our  contemporary, 
'"  hold  our  souls  in  peace,  and  preserve  ourselves  from 
"  anger.  The  smallest  act  of  violence  might  compromise 
"  forever  the  most  just  of  causes." 

With  heart  and  soul  we  join  with  the  Post  in  urging 


m 


—  121  — 


the  closest  union  at  this  critical  mon\ent  bctwen  the 
French  and  Irish  Catholics  of  the  Doiiiiniun.  l^iel  has  been 
jiiade  a  victim  to  Oraiiire  hate  and  hiu^otry.  The  lodges 
niav  now  rcioice,  and  ri'joice  thev  will  for  the  moment. 
But  if  the  (•atholics  of  Canada,  rising  in  their  might, 
show  them  that  they  can  not  here  erect  and  maintain  that 
same  species  of  Protestant  ascendancy  that  so  long  debased 
and  disgraced  Ireland,  their  rejoicing  will  be  of  short 
duration.  The  recent  pul)lic  declni'atioiis  of  the  ( )raiigi' 
body  leave  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  its  intentions.  Not 
satisfied  with  closing  the  doors  of  Municipal  Councils  in 
every  Province  where  they  are  numerous  enough  to  do 
so  against  Catholics,  not  content  with  nuiking  it  almost 
impossible  for  any  Catholic  to  win  legislative  honors 
except  in  strongly  Catholic  constituencies,  they  have  raised 
the  cry  that  the  French  must  go.  Quebec  is  henceforth 
to  be  the  ol)jective  point  of  their  assaults.  For  years 
insidious  attempts  have  been  made  to  destroy  the  auto- 
nomy of  the  Provinces,  for  the  purpose  of  oblitei'ating 
French  influence  in  this  Dominion.  These  efforts  French 
statesmen  have  not  I'csisted  at  the  outset  as  they  should 
have  been  resisted,  until  at  last  they  were  thought  so 
passive  as  even  to  bear  a  murderous  blow  at  their  nation- 
ality without  the  sliglitest  resentment.  It  is  difficult  to 
predict  the  immediate  political  result  that  must  follow  so 
grave  an  occurrence  as  the  executioji  of  the  Half-breed 
chieftain.  As  an  indication  of  the  feeling  among  the 
French  supporters  of  the  Administration,  we  may  mention 


—  122 


<    t 


•'I 


that  Za  Presse  (Conservative)  announoes  that  Messrs. 
Conrsol,  Desjardiiisaml  (iirouanl,  all  three  Conservatives, 
wrote  Sir  .lohn  MacDonald  innnediately  before  the  ex- 
ecution to  say  tliat  if  Kiel  were  lumped  he  sliould  no 
longer  have  tlieir  suj)j)ort.  On  the  13th  inst.,  the  following 
teleirram  was  sent  the  Premier : 


\i 


M 


Montreal,  Xov.  13th,  18>5. 

To  Sir  John  Mac  Donald^  K.  G.  C,  Ottawa: 

The  execution  of  Louis  Riel  would,  under  the  actual 
circumstances,  be  an  act  of  cruelty,  all  responsability  for 
which  we  repudiate. 

Signed :  J.  (/.  Coursol,  M.  P.,  Montreal  East. 

Alplioi'se  Desjardins,  M.  P.,  llochelaga. 
D.  Girouard,  M.  P.,  Jacipies-Cartier. 

F.  Yanasse,  M.  P.,  Yaniaska. 

L.  II.  Massue,  M.  P.,  Richelieu. 
Dupont,  M.  P.,  Bagot. 
A.  L.  Desaulniers,  M.  P.,  Maskinonge. 
J.-B.  Daoust,  M.  P.,  Two  Mountains. 
J.  S.  H.  Bergeron,  M.  P.,  Beauharnois. 
J.  W.  Bain,  M.  P.,  Soulanges. 
P.  B.  Benoit,  M.  P.,  Cliambly. 
Ed.  Guilbault,  M.  P.,  Joliette. 

G.  A.  Gigault,  M.  P.,  Eouville. 
S.  Labrosse,  M.  P.,  Prescott. 

L.  L.  L.  Desaulniers,  M.  P.,  St.-Maurice. 
F.  Dugas,  M.  P.,  Montcalm. 


—  123  — 

Besides  tliis  mesfiagc  Sir  John  MafDonald  also  re- 
ceived the  following : 

Montreal,  Nov.  14th,  ISS."). 

To  Sir  John  Mw  Don  aid,  K.  C.  M.  G.,  Ottawa  : 

I  join  very  heartily  with  my  colleagues  in  the  actual 
circumstances.  The  execution  of  Kiel  would  be  an  act 
of  cruelty  for  which  I  repudiate  all  resi)onsal)ility. 

II.  I  Inn  EAT,  M.  P., 

L'Assomption. 

To  Mr.  Desjardins,  member  for  Ilochelaga,  Mr. 
Amyot,  on  the  same  day,  despatched  the  following  telegram 
from  Quebec : 


To  Alphonse  Desjardins,  M.  P. 

You  have  done  well.     Lesago  and  myself  have  wired 

(t.  Amyot. 


in  the  same  sense. 


It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  entire  Quebec  delegation 
to  the  Commons  is  in  a  state  of  deepest  excitement  and 
agitation.  What  will  the  outcome  be  ?  The  next  session 
of  Parliament  will  tell  the  tale. — The  Catholic  Record  of 
London,  Ontario. 


\  i 


—  124  — 


fRISH   SYMPATHY  FOR   RIEL    IN   NEW   YORK. 


^A 


n 


Ui'soliitioiis  wore  adopted  at  tlio  i'o<i:nlar  iuoetin<j^  of 
the  Irish- AiiK'ricaii  l^iiioii  licld  last  cveiiin^i;,  in  wliicli 
the  execution  of  Louis  Iviel  was  eoiideinued  as  a ''judicial 
nuirdor,"  The  resolution  referred  to  the  Canadian  ( icnern- 
nuMit  as  a  "  sui)servient  tool  of  the  l)ii;'(»ted  Oranii^e  fac- 
tion," and  offered  con^ratidations  to  the  Fivnch  C'ana- 
diauH  for  the  "  spirit  and  deternnnation  shown  in  their 
efforts  to  save  Kiel's  life." — New  York  World. 


lucli 
icial 
orn- 
fac- 
ana- 
lieir 


HISTORICAL 


REMINISCENCES 


\l' 


Ii  ^ 


1         I    7 

{ 
t    1$ 


HISTORICAL  REMINISCENCES. 


IV. 


WHAT  THE  "FIGARO"  {PARIS)  SAYS. 


]>Ir.  George  Demanche,  a  distingnished  member  of  the 
Paris  i''/</crr6»'s  staff,  in  one  of  his  letters  published  in  that 
paper  on  the  lOtli  of  November,  expresses  himself  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  If  Iliel  had  not  surrendered  himself,  the  struggle 
would  have  been  a  long  one  and  the  issue  of  the  rebel- 
lion very  likely  different.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  the 
English  felt  very  uneasy  over  this  uprising  of  the  French 
Half-breeds,  and  it  is  one  of  their  characteristics,  never 
to  forgive  those  who  have  frightened  them.'' 

The  eminent  writer  was  with  the  French  delegation 
that  visited  Canada  during  the  month  of  August,  l>j85. 

Before  returning  t(j  France,  Mr.  Deiuanche  and  a  few 
companions  went  as  far  as  the  Kocky  Mountains, 
and  they  had  an  o{)portunity  of  seeing  this  immense 
North-western  territory  the  French  Metis  tried  so  hard 


128  — 


I!' 

1  5'  . 


;  M» 


>  ^ 


to  free  from  English  domination  on  two  different  occa- 
sions. 

He  ends  his  communication  by  these  few  words  : 
"Taking  everything  into  consideration,  the  execution  of 
Riel  would  be  a  crime  against  humanity." 

And  that  crime  has  been  perpetrated ! 

In  writing  that  the  En<»:hsh  never  forsj-ave  those  wlio 
succeeded  in  scaring  them,  Mr.  Denianclie  was  undoubt- 
edly thinking  of  the  30th  of  May,  1431. 

It  was  on  tliat  day  that  over  forti/  thoufiand  English 
troops  assembled  at  Rouen  to  witness  the  agony  of  one 
young  girl  scarcely  tweniy  years  of  age,  condemned  by 
them  to  be  burned  alive. 

It  was  on  that  day  that  Joan  of  Arc,  the  virgin  of 
Orleans,  expired  in  the  midt^t  of  a  devouring  fire  lit  by 
English  hands. 

That  07ie  inspired  young  girl  had  stricken  the  entii-e 
English  army  with  terror. 

They  did  not  forgive  her,  she  died  in  the  midst  of  the 
vociferations  of  the  British  soldiery  that  had  fled  be- 
fore her. 

Or  perhaps  Mr.  Demanche  had  present  in  his  mind 
the  Island  of  St.  Helena,  where  the  giant  whose  roaring 
had  shook  the  throne  of  England,  breathed  his  last  under 
the  odious  treatment  of  his  jailer,  Hudson  Lowe. 

The  Corsican  who,  when  a  young  officer  of  artillery, 
had  thrashed  the  English  at  Toulon,  and  who  twenty-two 
years  later,  when  Emperor  of  France,  met  Wellington  at 


—  129  — 


Waterloo,  that  Titan  called  Napoleon  T.,  whose  immortal 
eagles  had  harassed  for  years  the  Ih-itish  lion,  allowed 
himself  one  day  to  trust  English  honor  and  Lrenerositv. 

He  asked  hospitality  of  his  enemy. 

England  coniined  the  fallen  Emperor  at  St.  Helena. 

This  demi-god,  who  had  seen  the  world  at  his  feet, 
whose  simple  glance  and  frown  liad  terrified  tlie  Emperors 
and  Kings  of  Europe  and  who  had  dictated  to  all  the  po- 
tentates on  earth,  was  giyen  for  kingdom  a  pestilential 
spot  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean.  In  seeing  the  open 
prison  chosen  for  him  by  his  British  host,  he  remembered 
the  words  of  Dante  :  All  hope  ahandon,  ye  who  enter  in. 

England  had  not  forgotten  ! 

She  could  not  fori^-iye  I 

Albion  has  been  the  evil  genius  of  the  Bonapartes. 

The  first,  ''  the  Great."  died  an  exile  in  one  of  her 
islands  whose  infected  atmosphere  is  dreaded  even  by  the 
sea  gulls. 

The  second,  Napoleon  the  third,  the  man  of  Sedan, 
saw  his  last  day  on  the  English  soil  which  had  been  gen- 
erously opened  to  him  after  he  had  left  France  ruined  by 
his  fault,  and  bleeding  at  eyery  pore. 

The  third,  the  heir  to  the  Imjicrial  throne  of  Napo- 
leon I.  w^as  killed  by  the  Zulus,  while  in  the  seryice 
of  England.  He  fell  on  an  isolated  and  ignore<l  spot,  clad 
in  the  British  uniform,  the  same  as  tlie  one  worn  bv  hi:; 
grand  uncle's  jailers  at  St.  Helena. 


130  — 


A  COURAGEOUS  RASCAL. 


Ih 


t  'I  t 


m 


ll  ^'l 


i     / 


After  the  Rcgina  trapjedy,  Sir  Joliii  A.  Mat'Doiiald 
snddenhj  renieiribered  that  his  presoiioe  wa^  imperatively 
required  in  London.  The  important  question  of  the  fish- 
eries was  to  be  attended  to,  and  thinking;  most  wisely  that 
a  ehaiii^e  of  air  would  he  ben  "Hcial  to  him,  he  decided  to 
start  for  Kn<i:liind. 

T  wonder  liow  Ills  eoi]eai::ues  (d'  the  Ottawa  Cabinet 
felt  on  hearing-  tliat  their  leader  iiad  made  up  his  mind  to 
nud<e  that  pleasure  trip. 

Here  ai^ain  tlie  public  funds  come  in  very  handy. 

Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  Prime  Minister  for  the 
Donunion  of  Canada,  Mendjer  of  the  Privv  Council  of 
Her  Majesty  the  (^ueen  of  (ireat  Britain,  could  not 
travel  like  a  commoner,  and  as  the  vital  importance  of 
his  trip  to  London  could  not  be  questioned,  the  country 
must  pay  for  it.  His  Cabinet  will  have  to  face  the  popular 
storm  without  him.  A  })retty  hard  task  I  should  think, 
and  if  I  form  my  opinion  on  the  subject  from  the  public 
indii^nation  lately  expressed  all  over  Lower  Canada  the 
Ministers  have  a  ditHcult  work  before  them. 

For,  if  Riel's  trial  is  over,  there  is  another  to  trial  come, 
that  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDouald  and  the  French  Canadian 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  who  have  betraved  their  race. 

Kiel  has  paid  his  debt  in  full. 

The  FrenchCanudians  will  see  that  tlui  traitors  do  the 
erme. 


131  — 


THE  EXECUTION. 

[From  the  Leader,  the  most  prominent  paper  at  Regina.J 

The  Leader  was  always  liostile  to  Kiel  and  his 
cause.  The  impartiality  and  the  touchinir  sinipliciry  of 
the  following  narration  struck  me  as  deserving  a  few 
pages  in  this  book.  My  readers  will  surely  be  deeoly 
interested  in  reading  this  account  of  the  patriot  Louis 
David  Ptiel's  end,  and  will  fully  agree  with  me,  that  his 
beautiful  death  was  worthy  of  his  heroic  life.  This  is  the 
account  publislied  by  tlie  Uegina  Leader: 

Kiel    Executed.— He    Dies    Without    a    Speech.— A 
Sane  axd  Beautiful  Death. 

Regina,  Xov.  16 — As  fair  a  morning  as  ever  dawjied 
shone  on  the  closing  act— the  last  eyent— of  the  not  un- 
eventful life  of  Louis  Ptiel.  The  sun  glittered  out  in 
pitiless  beauty  and  the  prairie  slightly  silvered  with  hoar 
frost  shone  like  a  vast  plain  sown  with  diamonds.  We 
drove,  Mr.  Sherwood,  Chief  of  Dominion  Police,  who  had 
arrived  on  Sunday  evening  with  the  warrant.  As  we 
neared  Government-TIouse  two  armed  Mounted  Police 
drew  up  their  horses  across  our  path  and  demanded  our 
pass,  which  read  as  follows : 

"  To   Mr.    Gibson  :      Admit  representatives    of  the 
Leader.  (Signed)    Sheriff  Chapleau,  " 


i;j2 


It 


1^  ^r 


it    ^«; 
P     it 


1^ 


-     « 


1 


When  we  iicared  the  hrid<^c  there  was  a  force  com- 
maD(le(l  by  an  inspector.  Two  traps  were  at  a  standstill. 
One  of  the  troopers  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Percy  Sher- 
wood, an  old  friend.  VI q  had  a  ])leasant  word  with  Mr. 
F.  J.  llnnter  and  Mr.  W.  C.  llaniilton.  Our  pass  was 
again  vised  an<l  on  wo  drove.  Arrived  at  the  j^i'ison  we 
met  outside  the  representatives  of  the  press,  Dr.  Dodd, 
Dr.  Pugsley,  Mr.  Marsh,  Messrs.  Gil]es])ie,  Dawson,  Bole 
and  several  citizens.  The  heauty  of  the  morning  was 
the  chief  tlicme  of  conv^ersati<tn.  Towards  eiglit  o'clock 
we  crushed  onr  way  through  troopers,  Col.  Irvine  very 
courteously  doing  all  in  his  power  for  us,  ascended  the 
stair-case,  walked  the  length  of  the  prison,  and  there,  at 
the  doorway  of  the  ghastly  place  of  execution,  knelt  Kiel, 
his  profile  showing  clear  against  the  light.  Father  Andre, 
a  surplice  over  his  soutane  kneeling,  his  back  to  us,  and 
Father  McWilliams,  with  a  stole  thrown  over  his  travel- 
ling coat,  kneeling,  his  face  to  us,  and  holding  a  wax  can- 
dle lighted.  In  Kiel's  hand  was  an  ivory  crucifix,  silver 
mounted,  which  he  frecpiently  kissed,  leather  McWill- 
iams  and  Pere  Andre  ever  and  again  sprinkled  holy 
water  on  the  condemned  man.  Kiel  was  pale — deadly 
pale — and  his  face  looked  most  intellectual. 

F^ither  Andre  (in  French). — Do  you  pardon  all  your 
enemies  from  the  bottom  of  your  heart  ? 

Kiel :  I  do,  vion  pere — I  pardon  all  my  enePiies  for  the 
love  of  the  good  God. 


—  133  — 


:  ather  Andre :  Have  von  any  pentiinciit  of  malice, 
any  feeling  of  malice  against  any  one  ? 

Kiel :  No,  my  father,  I  forgive  all. 

Father  Andre :  Do  you  offer  your  life  as  a  sacrifice 
to  God  ? 

Riel :  I  do,  man  jn-re. 

Father  xindre  :  My  child— the  flesh  is  weak  and  the 
spirit  strong,  do  you  repent  of  all  your  sins  of  thought, 
word  and  deed  ? 

Kiel :  I  do,  my  father — I  have  committed  many  sins, 
and  I  ask  my  God's  pardon  for  them  all  in  tlie  names  of 
Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph, 

Father  Andre:  You  do  not  wish  to  speak  in  public? 
You  make  that  a  sacrifice  to  God  ? 

Riel:  Oui,  mnn pere.  I  nudvc  to  my  God  as  a  sacri- 
fice the  speaking  to  the  public  in  this  my  last  hour. 

Father  Andre:  God  has  been  o^ood  to  you  my  son  to 
give  you  an  opportunity  of  repenting  ;  are  you  thankful 
for  this  ? 

Kiel :  I  thank  the  good  God  that  in  Ills  Providence 
he  has  enabled  me  to  make  my  })eace  with  II im  and  all 
mankind  before  I  i>:o  away. 

The  two  clergymen  then  placed  their  hands  on  his 
head  and  pronounced  the  absolution. 

Eiel  then,  in  an  affecting  and  childlike  way,  ])rayed 
God  to  bless  his  mother,  his  wife,  his  brothers,  his  fi'Iendn 
and  his  enemies.  ''  My  fatlier  1)less  me,"  he  said,  lookinir 
up  to  heaven,  "  according  to  the  views  of  your  Providence, 


—  134  — 


IS 


ri 


^H 


which  are  ample  and  without  measure."     Then,  address- 
ing Pero  Andre  :  "  Will  you  bless  me,  Father  ? '' 

Father  Andre  l)lessed  him,  as  did  father  McWilliams. 
lie  then  rose  from  liis  knees  and  was  pinioned,  he  mean- 
while praying  and  the  cler»i;y  prayino;.  When  he  was 
ready  to  pass  out  to  the  scaffold,  Pere  Andre  said  to  him 
in  French,  "  There,  go  to  heaven!"  {Bon  I  Allez  au 
Clel!)  lie  then  kissed  Pere  Andre  on  tlie  lips,  and 
Father  McWilliams  embraced  him  ffivinc;  him  the  side 
of  each  cheek.  Kiel  then  said,  ere  he  tui'ned  to  pass 
through  the  door  which  went  into  that  room  built  of 
coarse  lumber  and  wliich,  if  Pere  Andre  is  right,  and  Riel 
was  really  repentant,  and  Christianity  is  true,  was  for  him 
the  poor  dingy  portals  of  eternal  day  and  unending  peace 
and  blessedness : — 

"  I  give  all  my  life  a  sacrifice  to  God.  Remerclez 
Madame  Forget  et  Monsieur  Forget.  O  my  God  I  "  he 
cried,  still  speaking  in  Fi-ench  as  he  went  down  stairs, 
"you  are  my  support.     Mon  soutien,  eldest  Dieu  !  " 

He  now  stood  on  the  drop.  The  cord  is  put  on  his 
neck.     lie  said:  "  Courage,  nion pereT 

Pere  Andre  in  subdued  tones  : — "  CouragJ  I  Courage !" 

They  shook  hands  with  him  as  did  Dr.  Jukes,  and 
Kiel  preserving  to  the  last  that  politeness  which  was  so 
characteristic  of  him,  and  which  was  remarked  during  the 
trial,  said  : 

"Thaidv  you,  Doctor." 

Then   he   prayed    in   French :     "  Jesus,    Mary   and 


—  1 


35 


Joseph  have  mercy  on  me.     Xespere   encore.      I    hope 
still.     1  believe  in  God  to  the  last  moment." 

Father  Mc Williams:  '^  Pray  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of 
Jesus.'' 

Kiel :  Have  mercy  on  me  Sacred  Heart  of  my  Jesus! 
Have  mercy  on  me.  Jesus,  Marie  et  Joseph  assistez-moi 
dans  mes  derniers  iiioiaents.  Assistez-inol,  Jesus,  Marie 
et  Joseph  ! 

Fatlier  McWilliams  held  the  cross  to  him,  which  he 
kissed. 

Mr.  Deputy  SheritT  Gibs-  n  :  "  Louis  Kiel  have  you  any- 
thing to  say  why  sentence  of  death  should  not  be  carried 

out  on  you  ?  " 

Kiel,  when  Pere  Andre  stood  about  to  ascend  the  stair- 
case, anxious  evidently  to  leave  the  painful  scene,  said  in 
French  :    •'  Shall  I  say  something  \ "' 

Pere  xVndre  :  "  No." 

Kiel  (in  French) :  Then  I  should  like  to  pray  a  little 
more. 

Pere  Andre  :  He  asks  to  pray  a  little  more. 

Deputy  Sheriff  Gibson  (looking  at  his  watch) :  ''  Two 
minutes." 

Father  McAYilliams  :  Say  ''Our  Father,"  and,  address- 
ingMr.  Gibson,  ''when  becomes  to  '  Deliver  us  from  evil,' 
tell  him  then." 

Mr.  Gibson  gave  the  directions  to  the  hangman  who 
now  put  on  RieFs  head  the  white  cap. 

Kiel  and  Father  McWilliams  :  "  Our  Father  which  art 


—  136 


in  heaven,  liallowed  hy  thy  name,  Thy  Kingdom  come, 
Thy  will  1)0  (lone  on  earth  as  it  is  in  Heaven,  give  us  this 
day  our  daily  bread,  and  deliver  us  .... '' 

The  han;:;nian  i)idle(l  the  crank  and  Riel  fell  a  drop  of 
nine  feet. 

Drs.  Dodd  and  (V)tton  were  below.  The  knot  in  the 
fall  had  slipped  round  from  under  the  poll.  The  body 
quivered  and  swayed  slightly  to  and  fro.  Dr.  Dodd  felt 
the  pulse. 

Leader  Reporter:  llow  is  Ids  pulse,  Doctor? 

Dr.  Dodd  :  It  beats  vet— sliij-htlv. 

Leader  Reporter  (addressing  Dr.  Cotton)  :  I  hope  he 
is  witliout  pain. 

Dr.  Cotton  :  ()  (piite.     All  sensation  is  gone. 

The  body  ceased  to  sway.  It  hung  without  a  quiver. 
Dr.  Dodd,  looking  at  his  watch  and  feeling  the  pulse  of 
what  was  Riel : — ''  He  is  dead.  Dead  in  two  minutes." 
Dr.  Cotton  put  hi >  ear  to  where  that  restless  heart  beat : 
*'  Dead." 


tie 
of 
iie 

ly 


le 


of 

t: 


THREE  TRAITORS. 


I'     i 


■!■ 


ill 


THREE  TRAITORS. 


V. 


LOI/E  OF  POWER  ABOVE  LOVE  OF     OUNTRY. 


Sir  Hector  Laiiirewiii ! 

Sir  Adolplie  Caroii ! 

Ilononible  {\)  J.  A.  Clia})leau ! 

These  tliree  luunes  have  been  lately  in  the  month  of 
everj  French  Canadian,  and  since  the  death  of  Kiel,  the 
lips  by  wiiich  they  were  uttered  have  never  failed  to 
accompany  them  with  a  cnrse  and  a  malediction. 

They  were  directly  connected  with  the  execution,  and 
they  will  be  forever  associated  with  one  of  the  bloodiest 
pages  of  Canada's  history. 

They  were  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald's  accomplices,  or 
they  were  his  tools. 

If  they  were  his  accomplices  they  have  ceased  to  be 
French  ("anadians,  they  are  renegades  and  apostates,  they 
are  cowards  I 

If  they  were  his  tools,  their  incapacity  and  weakness 


—  140 


'If 


i  -  *  !l>%. 


■■V 


make  them  unworthy  of  representing  their  race  in  the 
Cabinet. 

In  either  case  they  ought  to  leave  the  Ministry. 

Incapable,  or  traitors  to  the  cause  of  their  country- 
men, tlieir  political  career  has  ended  with  the  life  of 
liieh 

Tlie  death  warrant  was  approved  and  ratified  by  their 
signatures,  they  henceforth  belong  to  the  reprobation  and 
hatred  of  their  people. 

Their  presence  in  the  Cabinet  after  the  execution  of 
the  fatal  sentence  is  an  irrefutable  proof  that  they  have 
com])letely  endorsed  the  sanguinary  f)olicy  of  the  Prime 
Ministei,  and  they  have  become  the  Judas  of  their  race. 


CAMELEONIC  CRIMINALITY. 


%■' 


In  1875,  Ambroise  Le])ine,  one  of  the  staunchest  sup- 
porters and  friends  of  Riel,  who  had  played  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  rebellion  of  1S09,  was  arrested,  and  tried  in 
Manitoba,  for  the  crime  of  high  treason. 

The  charges  against  him  were  identically  the  same  as 
those  for  which  liiel  mounted  the  scalfold  at  liegina. 

A  young  lawyer  from  the  Province  of  Quebec  under- 
took the  defence  of  the  accused  man,  and  went  from 
Montreal  to  Winnipeg  in  order  to  atttmd  the  trial. 

His  name  was  J.  A.  Chapleau;  he  was  then  thirty- 
three  years  of  age,  and  his  career  as  a  criminal  lawyer 
had  already  been  a  successful  ore. 


■r 


Ul 


lie  was  much  esteemed  by  the  FreiK'li(  'aiuidian  harand 
his  Conservative  friends  phiced  great  liopes  in  him. 

His  political  prospects,  therefore,  were  very  good, 
and  his  popularity  was  a  sure  indication  that  he  would 
soon  rise  to  prominence. 

When  he  went  to  Manitoba  to  defend  Lepine,  he 
carried  w4th  him  the  best  wishes  of  Lower  Canada. 

Every  French  Canadian  followed  with  the  deepest 
interest  the  different  pliases  of  the  trial  in  which  was  in- 
volved the  life  of  a  Frencli  Half-breed. 

Never  before  had  Chapleau  been  more  eloquent  and 
irresistibly  convincing  than  on  this  occasion. 

His  pleading  before  the  court  is  still  remembered  as 
a  remarkable  effort. 

He  spoke  of  the  heinous  persecution  that  had  forced 
the  French  Half-breeds  to  take  ^^.p  arms  against  their 
oppressors. 

He  pictured  with  energy  and  pathos  the  misery  and 
despair  of  the  people  who  had  seen  their  homes  plund- 
ered, their  wives,  mothers  and  sisters  violently  outraged, 
and  their  brothers  cowardlv  and  brutallv  assaulted. 

He  descril)ed  with  tears  in  his  eyes  the  heartless  and 
unmerciful  treatment  they  had  received  at  the  hands  of 
iheir  enemies. 

He  spoke  of  the  violated  rights  of  these  men  as 
British  subjects,  as  Christians,  and  as  heads  of  families. 

He  protested,  with  an  inspire<l  and  convincing 
elo(^uence,   against  the  systenuitic  and  cold  indilferencQ 


-    142  — 


i!^ 


li 


H' 


i% 


bIiowm  bv  the  Governiiieiit  on  all  tliat  liad  connection 
with  the  North-western  territories. 

Pie  solemnly  denoiirieed  the  numberless  acts  of 
savagery  and  ruffianism  perpetrated  by  Orangemen  since 
1870:  and  in  the  name  of  humanitv,  civilization  and 
progress,  his  insj)ired  voice  tliundered  an  emphatic 
protestation  against  the  continuance  of  tliese  horrors, 
wliich  were  the  dislionor  and  sliame  of  (.'anadian  history. 

He  spoke  with  nol'le  dignity  of  tlie  loyalty  of  the 
French  (Janadian  race  to  the  British  Crown  ;  he  repeated 
the  memorable  words  of  Sir  George  Etienne  Tartier, 
that  immortal  champion  of  Canadian  rights :  "  It  is  a 
French  Canadian  who  will  fire  the  last  gun  for  the 
defence  of  England  on  American  soil."' 

Chapleau's  voice  rang  through  the  Dominior.  like  a 
thunderbolt  in  the  middle  of  a  silent  night. 

French  Canadians  were  breathlesslv  awaiting  the 
close  of  the  trial. 

Ambroise  Lepine  was  sentenced  to  death  for  high- 
treason,  but  on  the  15th  of  January,  1875,  the  Earl  of 
Dufferin,  then  Governor  General  of  Canada,  advised  the 
Dominion  Minister  of  Justice,  and  reported  to  Her 
Majesty's  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies,  that  "  ac- 
co?'ding  to  his  independent  judgment^  and  on  his  own 
jpersonal  resjxynsihility^^^  he  had  commuted  a  capital 
sentence,  that  of  Ambroise  Lepine,  to  two  years 
IMPRISONMENT  witli  forfeiture  of  political  rights." 

A  few  years  later  the  Honorable  J.  A.  Chapleau  was 


^»*e^ 


143 


offered  and  accepted  tlie  portfolio  of  Secretary  of  State  on 
the  Ministerial  benelies. 

And  the  same  man  whose  voice  resonnded  in  1S75, 
in  And)roise  Lepine's  case,  like  the  trumpet  of  the 
avenging  angel  of  an  o])])resse(l  race,  could  not  find  a 
word  for  the  defence  of  Louis  David  Kiel  whose  offence 
was  identicallv  the  same  ns  tliat  of  Ambroise  Lei)ine. 
And  his  signature  can  now  be  seen  on  the  death-warrant, 
near  that  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonikId,  his  Orange  chief; 
and,  horrible  to  relate,  it  seems  as  if  the  hand  of  fatalitv 
had  directed  all  the  details  of  that  iniquitous  immolation 
in  order  to  stigmatize  the  name  of  Chapleau  I 

The  Honorable  J.  A.  Cliapleau,  Secretary  of  State, 
was  a  member  of  the  Cabinet  who  decided  npon  RieFs 
fate. 

Major  Chapleau,  his  brother,  High  Sheritf  for  the 
Province  of  the  Saskatchewan,  was  the  official  who  was 
representing  the  justice  of  England  on  the  scaffold  at 
Regina  where  the  leader  of  the  Metis  was  launched  into 
eternity. 

The  former  had  decided  upo!i  Riel's  death  I 

The  latter  was  the  salaried  tool  by  which  the  sentence 
was  executed  ! 

One  was  the  condemning  judge  ! 

The  other  the  executioner ! 

It  may  be  argued,  that  Chapleau  the  Minister  acted 
according  to  the   dictates  of   his  conscience,   and  that 


^>*eh 


Ul 


!■      II 


Chapleau  the  High  Sheriff  performed  the  duties  of  his 
offic'e. 

True !  but  will  a  brother  immolate  his  brother,  a 
son  his  father,  a  father  his  son,  when  there  is  a  possibility 
of  resigning  an  official  position  in  order  to  repudiate  the 
odium  of  an  infamous  deed  ? 

Mademoiselle  de  Sombreuil  once  drank  a  glass  of  blood 
to  save  her  father's  life. 

Chapleau,  Langevin  aiid  Caron  never  thought  of 
sacrificing  their  portfolios  to  save  tlie  life  of  their  brother 
Louis  David  liiel.  llow  could  they  save  liiel  ?  may  be 
the  question  asked  by  those  who  have  reasons  in  trying 
to  exonerate  these  three  ministers  of  the  Crown  from 
the  crushing  responsibility  they  have  assumed. 

How  could  they  save  Kiel  ?  I  will  never  believe  that 
Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  would  have  carried  his  threats 
into  execucion  if  the  three  French  Canadian  members  of 
the  Cabinet  had  unanimously  tendered  their  resignations 
sooner  than  partici])ate  in  any  manner  or  form  in  the 
deed  which  has  aroused  the  indignation,  not  only  of  one 
million  live  hundred  thousand  Caiuidians  of  French  origin, 
but  also  that  of  two-thirds  of  the  well-thiidving  English- 
speaking  peo})le  of  the  Dominion. 

Had  Langevin,  Cha})leau  and  Caron  been  animated 
with  a  commendable  devotion  t(j  the  dignity  and  welfare 
of  their  fellow  countrymen,  instead  of  being  moved  only 
by  a  personal  and  unavowable  purpose,  Riel's  life  would 
have  been  spared. 


—  145  — 


a 


What  England  did  not  dare  to  do  with  Arabi  Pasha 
and  Cetawajo,  Canada  did  not  iiesitate  to  do  with  the 
French  Metis,  and  the  French  Canadians  fnllv  understand 
that  there  are  three  names  that  will  be  henceforth  con- 
demned to  national  execration,  and  those  three  names  are 
Lamjemn^  Caron^  Chaplcau. 


of 


j;m, 


I  have  read  in  one  of  the  Canadian  papers  that  the 
Gov^ernment  is  abont  to  publish  a  pamphlet  destined  to 
explain  and  defend  the  policy  of  the  ministry  in  the 
affairs  of  the  North-west. 

This  pamphlet,  it  is  said,  will  be  especially  addressed 
to  the  French  Canadian  population, 

I  am  very  anxious  indeed  to  read  the  promised  expla- 
nations of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald's  Cabinet.  The  Minis- 
ters may  find  a  servile  writer  to  pen,  according  to  their 
suggestions,  whatever  they  may  think  of  or  invent  for 
their  defence,  but  they  will  not  lind  a  single  French 
Canadian  reader  who  will  see  in  their  pamphlet  a  justi- 
fication of  the  Hegina  tragedy. 

Why  not  wait  until  the  next  session  of  Parliament 
before  attempting  to  justify  themselves  in  the  eyes  of 
the  country  ? 

If  they  are  so  strongly  convinced  that  in  hanging  the 
French  Metis  they  acted  sti'ictly  according  to  tiie  laws  of 
justice,  why  should  they  be  so  anxious  to  publicly 
explain  their  conduct  while  they  postpone,  through  fear, 


—  146  — 


1    Y 

»! 


i 


;  I 


1,, 

1   »i 


the  convocation  of  the  letjislative  bodv  to  wliorn  they  are 
directly  responsil)k;  ? 

The  proposed  publication  of  this  pamphlet  is  a  scheme 
designed  for  the  sole  purpose  (jf  gaining,  as  soon  as  possible, 
the  good-will  and  sup])ort  of  some  honest  and  hesitating 
partisans,  who,  crushed  by  this  national  calamity,  cannot 
vet  believe  that  the  three  French  Canadian  Ministers 
could  be  guilty  of  such  a  monstrous  treason  against  their 
race. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  their  pamphlet  will  never  make  the 
people  forget  the  KJth  of  November,  1885,  or  the  gibbet 
of  Regina. 

A   TRUE  BILL. 

Let  the  (Jabinet  impudently  deny  that  the  French 
Half-breeds  were  not  ti'eated  with  indiffei-ent  and  cruel 
contempt  since  1809. 

Let  the  Ministers  justify  the  ci'imiiud  neglect  they 
have  been  guilty  of  in  everything  concerning  the  affairs 
of  Manitoba  and  the  Saskatchewan. 

Let  them  explain  their  incomprehensible  indulgence 
towards  the  Orange  vandals  who  have  kept  the  North- 
west in  a  continuous  state  of  terror  for  upward  of  fifteen 
years. 

Let  them  deny  that  French  IFalf-breeds  were  assassi- 
nated, that  the  Metis  homes  were  plundered,  their  wives 
and  daughters  outraged,  their  properties  treacherously 
taken  away  from  tln^in  by  Orangemen. 


—  147  — 


Let  the  Cabinet  members  prove  tliat  Kiel  and  liis  fol- 
lowers had  not  been  pardoned  three  times  hy  tlicm. 

Let  the  Government  refute  the  fact  that  the  llalf- 
breed  population  has  not  been  in  a  starving  condition 
for  the  last  ten  years,  while  the  rapacious  speculators 
were  openly  protected  by  the  authorities. 

Let  ^\v  John  A.  MacDoiuild  explain  in  the  face  of 
the  world  his  avowed  and  untiring  liatred  for  Riel. 

Let  him  (kmy  what  he  said  once,  ''Oh  !  that  Kiel,  if 
1  ever  can  get  him  in  my  power!  " 

Let  his  Cabinet  prove  tliat  Ptiel's  ti-ial  was  a  fair  one. 

Let  them  prove  also  that  the  jury  did  not  recommend 
the  condemned  man  to  the  mercy  of  the  Government. 

Let  them  give  the  reasons  and  motives  of  the  three 
inhuman  reprieves  in  the  execution  of  the  sentence. 

Let  Sir  Adolplie  Caron  repeat  to  tlie  French 
Canadians  his  toast  and  speecli  deh'vered  in  Winnipeg 
before  the  execution. 

Let  Sir  Hector  Langevin  explain  the  part  he  acted  in 
this  affair,  and  his  twice  broken  official  declarations  ! 

Let  the  Honorable  J.  A.  Chapleau  give  Jie  reasons  of 
his  devotion  to  Le])ine  and  his  utter  indifference  alwut 
Kiel's  fate. 

Let  them  all  deny  the  fact  that  the  execution  of  the 
French  Half-breed  was  decided  upon  in  order  to  appease 
the  Orange  brethern  of  Sir  Jolm  A.  MacDonald  and  in 
spite  of  the  indignation  of  the  whole  Christian  world. 

Let  them  say,  if  they  dare,  that  they  are  not  respou- 


us  — 


I  if  Ml 


Mv 


sible  for  all  the  outrages  that  gave  rise  to  the  two  rebellions. 

Let  them  point  out  a  single  instance  where  they  did 

iinything  to  jMicify  and  relieve  the  oppressed  and  starving 


1 


M'encli  i  I  alt-breed  ])opuIation. 

Let  them  conceal  the  fact  that  the  entire  Parish  of  St. 
Louis  de  Langevin  was  completely  defrauded  by  English 
and  Orange  speculators  of  a  property  on  which  twenty- 
four  families  were  living. 

Let  all  the  members  of  the  Ottawa  Ministry  invent,  if 
tlu'V  can,  ])lausil)le  reasons  for  the  justification  of  their 
barbarous  conduct  in  Riel's  case,  they  will  convince  only 
tliose  who  ha  vc  reaf^ons  to  allow  themselves  to  be  convinced  1 
The  press  in  every  country,  humanity  and  civilization  have 
condemned  the  execution  of  the  patriot  Louis  David  Riel 
as  one  of  the  most  hideous  ])ohtical  crimes  perpetrated  in 
the  nineteenth  century. 

No  explanation  can  wash  oif  the  blood  that  is  on  Sir 
John  A.  MacDonald's  hands.  No  apology  will  ever  exon- 
erate the  three  French  Canadian  Ministers  of  their  par- 
ticipation in  the  legal  murder  of  one  of  their  own  race. 
The  world  has  pronounced  its  verdict. 

The  names  of  the  mend)ers  of  the  Ottawa  Cabinet, 
especially  those  of  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  Hector  Lan- 
gevin, Adolphe  (^aron  and  J.  A.  Clui})leau,  w^ill  henceforth 
belong  to  the  list  of  murderers. 

And  as  God  in  expelling  (^ain  from  the  Garden  jf 
Eden  reproached  him  with  the  death  of  Abel,  so  history 


—  149  — 

and  posterity  will  call  those  tliree  French  r'aiiadian  Min- 
isters to  a  terrible  account  for  tlie  death  of  lliel. 

The  crime  has  been  committed. 

The  expiation  is  sin'e  to  come. 

ADDING  COWARDLY  INSULT  TO  CRIMINAL  INJUSTICE. 


It  is  said  that  the  day  after  the  execution  at  Regina, 
the  Mitiistcrs  in  Conncil  deckled  to  vote  a  pension  in 
favor  of  EieFs  family. 

The  bare  thought  of  such  an  unprecedented  baseness 
is  a  crime  as  horrible  as  the  homicide  they  have  perpe- 
trated. 

Louis  David  Kiel,  how  and  when  did  vou  ever  deserve 
this  last  and  hunnliating  insult  i 

These  l)lood-thirsty  cannil)als  nuide  a  l)rokcn-hearted 
woman  of  your  old  mother,  a  widow  of  your  young  wife, 
two  orphans  of  your  children,  and  after  this  quadruple 
crime  was  committed,  they  coolly  offered  them  a  morsel 
of  bread  as  a  proper  remuneration  for  the  life  you  have 
so  courageously  lost  on  their  scaffold.  Their  generosity 
can  only  be  equalled  by  their  villaiiy,  and  the  mo.iey  they 
offer  to  pay  to  your  desolate  family  wuuld  come  from  the 
public  funds ! 

They  would  pay  for  their  crime  with  the  })eople's 
money.  It  is  simply  horrible  and  no  punisliment  will 
ever  be  worthy  of  such  infamy. 

These  blood  stained  dictators  may  for  a  while  yet  hold 


"I 


Iv^ 


','.  I 


-J' 


—  150  — 

in  tlieir  hands  tlie  reins  of  the  Clovernment,  but  they  will 
never  cease  to  see  in  their  sleepless  jii<j^litR  the  livid  plian- 
toni  of  their  victim. 

Remorse,  that  "■  merciles^s  j)olieem!in  of  (lod,''  will  pur- 
sue them  until  tiiey  rot  in  their  dishonored  ij:raves. 

They  were  inexorable  lowards  Kiel. 

Public  o])inion  will  be  without  mercy  for  them. 

And  you,  youni»;  French  Canadian  poets,  Louis  Fre- 
chette and  Benjamin  Suite,  will  y<»u  not  let  your  lyre  be 
heard  in  a  sublime  and  national  J)e  Profundii^?  Will  not 
your  muse  inspire  you  with  an  ode  of  patriotic  praise  for 
the  Metis  martyr  and  one  of  eternal  anathema  afjrainst  his 
executioners  ? 

Oh!  that  you  may  find  in  your  souls  accents  power- 
ful enough  to  immortalize  the  name  of  the  fallen  hero, 
and  to  brand  with  infamy,  before  the  present  generation 
and  the  generations  to  come,  the  names  of  those  whose 
criminal  hands  brought  about  his  untimely  dcnitli. 


V 


ill 

11- 


e- 
)e 
ot 
i)r 

lis 

T- 
0, 

;ii 
8e 


CONDEMNED 


EVEN  BEFORE  TRIED. 


i   H 


!il 


CONDEMNED  EVEN  BEFORE  TRIED. 


VI. 


"OH!    THAT  RIEL,  IF  I  CAN  EVER   GET  HIM  IN  MY 

POWER!" 

These  are  tlie  words  uttered  hy  Sir  John  A.  ^^;leI)()Ilidd 
shortly  after  tlie  iseeond  rebellion  of  tlie  Half -hreeds. 

These  few  words,  coining  from  the  lips  of  the  Premier, 
Lad  a  meaning-  full  of  inexorable  hati'ed. 

They  contained  a  world  of  threats,  and  these  threats 
have  been  fully  ])ut  into  execution  since  the  surrender  of 
the  Metis  leader. 

The  cold,  pitiless  policy  folhnved  by  the  Ottawa  Gov- 
ernment can  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  immutable  resolu- 
tion of  the  Chief  of  the  Cabinet  in  carrvinir  throujdi  his 
deadly  design  against  Riel. 

The  formation  of  the  court  that  tried  Riel  could  give 
no  hope  that  the  trial  wouhl  be  a  fair  one. 

The  selection  of  six  jurymen  of  English  origin  was  a 
clear  indication  that  the  verdict  would  prove  irrevocably 
fatal  to  the  prisoner. 


—  15  t  — 


m 


f  t 


lil        * 


Why  this  calculated  selection  of  the  English  judge 
Richardson '( 

Why  this  formation  of  a  jniy  composed  of  six  men 
only,  chosen  among  English-speaking  people  i 

Had  not  Riel  the  right  to  be  tried  by  a  jury  composed 
of  twelve  of  his  own  countrymen  ? 

The  vilest  assassin  brought  to  justice  for  the  most 
abominable  crime;  the  parricide,  the  highwayman,  the 
commonest  cut-throat,  has  the  right  to  ask  for  a  jury  of 
twelve  men  I 

Why  this  exception  for  Kiel? 

General  Middleton,  the  commander  of  the  expedition 
against  this  lasi  insurrection,  sent  a  message  to  Riel,  tell- 
ing him  that  if  he  wi)uld  surrender,  he  could  entirely 
depend  upon  the  mercy  and  leniency  of  the  Government. 
How  did  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  keep  that  promise, 
officially  made  by  the  superior  officer  he  had  sent  to  cut 
down  the  rebellion  ? 

Reil  surrendered  himself,  but  instead  of  finding  in  his 
judges  mercy  and  leniency,  he  was,  from  the  day  of  his 
imprisonment,  treated  like  a  mad  dog. 

His  trial  was  a  farce,  a  dastardly  treachery,  a  revolting 
villany.  From  the  day  the  door  of  his  cell  closed  upon 
him  at  Regina  he  was  doomed. 

Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  had  him  in  his  clutches  this 
time.  No  power,  no  influence,  no  prayer  on  earth  could 
save  him.  And  in  spite  of  all  that  was  done  to  obtain 
the  commutation  of  his  sentence,  the  scaffold  w^as  erected 


155  — 


by  the  order  of  tlie  Ottawa  Cabinet,  and  Kiel  paid  with 
his  h'fe  the  crime  of  being  one  of  the  noblest  sons  of  that 
vabant  race  of  j)i()neers,  who,  lieaded  by  Jacques  Cartier, 
were  the  tirst  to  l)rin<>-to  Canaihi  the  sublime  synibol  of 
religion  and  civilization. 

After  this  crime  had  been  decided  upon  by  the  Cana- 
dian Ministers,  Sir  John  A.  MacDonald  immured  himself 
in  silent  and  deaf  indifference. 

From  his  private  cabinet  that  man  threw  impudently 
the  gauntlet  to  public  o})inion  and  postei'ity. 

His  well-known  irrepressible  thirst  for  whiskey  and 
strong  liquor  of  all  kinds,  change«l  uddenly  into  an  in- 
extinguishable thirst  for  Kiel's  blood,  and,  face  to  face 
with  his  complacent  and  heinous  conscience,  he  waited 
for  the  mournful  end.  Like  the  gibbet  at  Regina,  he  was 
waiting  patiently  but  surely  for  his  victim. 

Into  his  ])reseiK'e  was  shown  a  venerable  prelate, 
Bishop  Grandin.  who,  in  spite  of  his  advanced  age,  had 
come  from  the  Saskatchewan  to  implore  his  clemency 
for  the  condemned  Ilalf-breed. 

He  asked  a  commutation  of  sentence  in  the  name  of 
the  whole  Catholic  clergy  and  the  people  of  his  far-dis- 
tant diocese. 

That  holv  veteian  of  God's  army  humbled  himself 
before  the  Macchiaveli(»  statesman,  but  to  no  avail ;  he 
found  him  inexorable. 

The  voice  of  almost  the  entire  press  of  the  world, 
reached  his  ear,  and  asked  him  not    to    add    another 


—  156 


i; 


\.., 


hideous  immolation  to  the  hi^^tory  of  mankind.  He 
remained  unmoved  at  tliis  eelio  of  human  and  universal 
lanKsntiitlon.  He  remembered  that  in  renderinij:  their 
verdict,  the  eyes  of  the  juiymen  were  wet  with  tears, 
that  ill  giving  their  answer  to  the  "  (xuilty  or  not  guiltj,"' 
their  voices  were  broken  by  sobs,  and  that  after  answer- 
in<^  ''Guilty,"  they  unanimously  and  warmly  recom- 
mended the  doomed  man  to  the  clemency  of  the  Govern- 
ment. 

Yes!  lie  rememl)ered  all  that,  but  his  heart  was 
closed  to  any  such  sentiment  as  that  of  clemency. 

There  was  only  one  thiiiii^  that  Sir  Jolm  A.  Mac- 
Donald  had  not  forgotten,  it  was  his  own  words :  '*  Oh  ! 
that  Kiel  I  if  ever  1  can  ^et  him  in  my  power  I " 

And  he  had  him  at  last  in  his  power. 

A  petition  was  sent  him,  signed  by  over  one  million 
five  hundred  thousand  French  Canadians  asking  him  to 
be  merciful  and  to  change  the  penalty. 

lie  paid  no  attention  to  their  pressing  request! 

That  man  who  is  a  husband  and  a  father,  was  told 
that  I\iers  old  mother  was  crushed  by  grief  and  anguish; 
that  his  young  wife,  wl.  J  was  about  to  give  birth  to  her 
third  child,  was  heart-l)roken  and  dvini):  from  sorrow  and 
despair  ;  that  his  two  infant  chiklren  were  asking  for 
their  father :  The  human-faced  tiger  was  deaf  lo  all 
8up])lications. 

But  his  own  co-religionists,  the  Orangemen,  were  ad- 
mitted into  his  office  night  and  day. 


id 


—  157  — 

He  lieard  from  them,  tliut  the  hfe  of  Kiel  was  the 
price  of  their  votes. 

They  insisted  upon  tlie  Half-breed  being  executed 
according  to  sentence. 

They  reminded  him  of  Scott's  execution,  and  adjured 
him  to  become  his  avenger. 

The  fate  of  Kiel  was  then  iri'evocably  decided   upon. 

That  Minister  of  the  English  Crown,  who  liad  ])een 
insensible  to  the  cry  of  clemency,  mercy,  pardon  and 
humanity,  listened  to  the  satanic  voice  of  an  odious  and 
malicious  hatred,  and  on  the  Kith  of  Novend)er,  ISS.'),  in 
avenging  the  death  of  the  rufhan  Thomas  Scott,  he  be- 
came the  assassin  of  Louis  David  Kiel,  the  heroic  French 
Canadian  Half-breed,  whose  only  crime  was  a  too  ardent 
love  for  his  country,  and  whose  last  breath  was  a  supreme 
invocation  and  prayer  to  the  God  of  his  faith. 

And  thus  another  bloody  page  was  added  to  the 
history  of  human  passion  and  atrocity  ! 

But  a  new  name — that  of  Kiel — has  increased  in 
number  the  lonjjf  list  of  i)atriotic  martvrs  whose  memory 
live  for  ever  in  the  heart  of  generations,  and  whose 
martyrdom  is  a  sublime  teacliing  to  nations  and  a  perpe- 
tual warning  to  oppressors  and  tyrants. 

THE   QUESTION   OF   THE  HOUR. 


And  now,  French  Canadians,  what  are  you  going  to 


do? 


—  158  — 


.,','1 


Will  vou  swallow  slianiefullv  the  coward Iv  insult  in- 
flicted  upon  your  noble  race  hy  the  disciples  of  William 
of  Orange  ? 

Your  nationality,  yonr  faith,  your  institutions,  your 
pride,  your  dignity,  your  religion,  your  God  in  tine, 
have  been  slapped  in  the  face  by  a  hand  still  iinj)r('gnated 
and  wet  with  the  blood  of  Louis  David  Kiel,  that 
energetic  son  of  your  race. 

Are  you  going  to  bend  your  once  proud  heads  and 
offer  silently  your  bare  backs  to  the  O.-ange  knout  ? 

Are  you  no  longer  the  sons  of  those  Titans  who 
wrote  on  their  banner:  "  Notre  Religion,  notre  Langue 
et  nos  Lois?"  {Our  Religion^  our  Mother  Tonyiie  and 
our  Laws.) 

You  hav<^  seen  how  far  can  go  the  hatred  of  those 
who,  not  satisfied  to  live  upon  the  soil  of  your  ancestors, 
have  been  and  are  still  working — and  will  strive  untir- 
ingly— for  the  annihilation  of  all  those  who  have  French 
blood  in  their  veins,  or  Catholic  faith  in  their  souls. 

What  you  lun  witnessed  is  nothing  compared  to 
w^liat  you  must  e>  p    '.t. 

The  name  of  iuel  cannot  be  fori^otten  after  a  diiv's 
excitement.  It  should  be  in  the  future  the  symbol  of 
patriotism  and  self-sacritice,  and  his  fate  should  live  for 
ever  in  your  hearts  as  an  illustration  of  the  capabilities  of 
those  who  hold  in  their  hands  the  destinies  of  your 
country. 

A  new  epoch,  a  new  phase  has  commenced  for  you, 


i; 


AND  HIS  ASSASSINS, 


—  159  — 

No  more  factions  between  yourselves  1  Be  united  for- 
ever, and  when  danger  comets,  remember  the  cry  of  the 
Imperial  Guard,  of  which  your  mother-country  is  so  justly 

proud  : 

"  Ser/'ez  les  rangs^^^ 

and  in  an>wer  to  the  auto-da-fe,  offered  by  Sir  John 
A.  MacDonald  and  his  Cabinet  to  their  Orange  friends, 
build  a  Canadian  Pantheon  where  yon  will  inscribe  in 
the  first  line  the  glorious  name  of  the  martyr  Louis  David 
Riel,  with  the  following  epitaph  under  it : 

ly  MEMORY  OF 

LOUIS  DAVID  KIEL, 

A     FRENCn     CANADIAN     HALF-BKEEU, 

BOKN    IX    1844 

AT 

st.  bonifack,  manitoba, 

cowardly   assassinate];    at   regina   by   the 

Ottawa  Cabinet  and  hie  Orange  Party 

ON 

November  10th,   1885. 


passer-by 

A  prayer  for  the  ElEliNAL   REPOSE  OF  THE  SOUL  OF  THIS 

MARTYR 

AND  A  CURSE   cpon 

Sir  John  A.  MacDonald,  the  chief  of  his  Assasslns, 


m 


ORANGEISM 


VII. 


A  FEW  REMARKS. 


OATH    AND   OBLIGATION    OF    AN    ORANGEMAN. 


In  the  introduction  of  his  l)Ook  called  Tiiic  History 

OF    Okangeism,    its  ori^i^in,  its  rise,  and  its  decline,  by 

M.  P.,  and  published  in  Dublin  by  M.  A.  (iill  c^-  Son, 

50,  Upper  Sackville  Street,  and  in  Glasgow  by  (.'anieron 

tfe    Ferguson,    AVest    jS^ile    Street,  in   1882,    the    anihor 
expresses  himself  as  follows : 

"  Prejudice  has  no  more  invincible  foe  than  knowl- 
edge, and  the  reign  of  one  must  be  the  dethronement 
of  the  other.  To  assist  as  far  as  I  can  by  the  aid  of 
History  to  let  in  the  light  of  day  upon  an  oi'gaiiisati»n 
(Orangeism)  more  dangerous  than  ''Nihilism,"  because 
it  is  in  the  guise  of  loyalty ;  more  destructive  than 
"  Communism,"  because  it  turns  the  arms  of  a  people 
against  themselves ;  more  degrading  than  "  Ribbonisin," 


—  104  — 

being  the  servile  tool  of  an  autocratic  conspiracy,  filiall 
then  be  the  object  to  which  in  these  pages  I  shall 
devote  myself.  My  weapons  may  be  rusty.  Tney  will 
not  be  the  less  invincible  ....  The  end  is  to  bring 
conviction  to  upright  men  of  all  classes  ....  '2so 
peoj)le,'  says  Edmund  Burke,  '  will  look  forward  to 
posterity,  who  do  not  often  look  backward  to  their 
ancestors,'  and  in  this  I  iind  my  justilication.  Whether 
they  blush  at  their  crimes,  or  feel  elated  at  their  heroism, 
the  lesson  will  be  the  same.  In  their  errors  we  may 
find  a  warning,  in  their  virtues  an  examj)le. 

"The  Author." 


I  k 


In  reading  over  attentively  some  precious  documents 
carefully  selected  by  the  author  of  this  remarkable  work, 
I  have  founil  tlie  following  which  should  not  fail  to  be 
an  everlasting  warning  to  true  Catholics  all  over  the 
world,  particularly  so  to  those  of  all  and  every  origin 
who  live  in  a  country,  wherever  it  may  be,  protected  by 
the  British  Hag,  and  ruled  by  English  institutions. 

The  unjustitiable  execution  of  Louis  David  Riel,  the 
Catholic  French  Ilalf-broed,  is  one  of  those  solemn  events 
which  ought  to  be  considered  by  nations  as  a  timely 
lesson  taught  by  the  Almighty. 

It  is  only  by  consulting  history  that  a  people  can 
learn  who  were  its  benefactors  or  its  persecutors. 

It  is  only  by  knowing  what  has  taken  place  in  the 


fi. 


—  Kin  — 

past  tliat  a   raro  ran   ^uard  aij^ainst  wliat  miVlit  happen 
ill  the  fiitiiro. 

The  liafrcd  of  ()l•an^^'^lC'n  for  Catholica  18  a  secret 
to  no  one,  less  8o  to  tliose  wlio  arc  likely  to  road  mv  book, 
and  !)(.!  iiiteivstcd  bv  its  coiitciits.  ThiTc  are,  however, 
a  few  uiideniahle  facts  that  it  would  he  well  to  eon- 
tinuoiisly  recall  to  tlie  minds  of  those  whose  life  is  spent 
among  irreconcilahlo  enemies,  and  this  is  why  I  add  tlio 
following  to  my  l)(H»k: 

ORANGEMEN'S  ORIGINAL    OATH. 

"  I  do  lierehv  swear  that  T  will  ho  true  to  the  Kinjr 
and  (xovernmeMt,  and  that  I  will  exterminate,  as  far  as  I 
am  able,  the  Catholics  of  Ireland." 

ORIGINAL  TEST. 


"  Q. — AVhere  are  yon  ? 
"  A. — At  the  Ifonse  of  Bondacje. 
"  Q. — Where  are  yon  going  ? 
"A. —  To  the  Promised  Land. 
"  Q. — Stand  past  yonrself  ? 
"  A.— Through  the  Red  Sea. 
"  Q. — What  is  your  haste  ? 
"  A. — r  am  afraid. 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  for  the  man  who  sought  your  life 
is  dead. 


—  166  — 


u 


a 


Q. — Will  yon  hold  it  or  have  it 
A.-I  V.  ill  hold  it." 


1  t 


AMENDED  OATH  OF  ORANGEMEN, 

''  AS  ISSUED    FKOM    THE    HANDS    OF    THE    GRAND    MASTER    OF 

THE  ORANGE  LODGES  OF  ULSTER." — {T/iomas  Vemev.) 

"J,  in  the  presence  of  Alniiijjhty  God,  do  solemnly 
a.id  sincerely  swear,  that  I  will  not  in\Q  the  Secret  of  an 
Oranirenian,  nidess  it  be  to  him  or  them  I  find  to  be  snch 
after  strict  trial,  or  on  the  word  of  a  well-known  Orange- 
man, r  also  swear  that  I  will  answer  all  snmmons  for  an 
assend)ly  of  Oranii;enien,  eiu'hty  miles  distance  ;  and  that  I 
will  not  s'*t,  standby,  or  be  by,  and  see  a  brother  Orann-e- 
man  struck,  battered  or  abused,  or  know  his  character  in- 
jured or  taken  away,  without  using  every  effort  in  my 
power  to  assist  him  at  the  hazard  of  my  life.  I  further 
declare,  that  1  will  not  lie  to  or  upon  an  O.angeman,  me 
knowing  the  same  to  be  detrimental  to  him,  but  will  warn 
him  of  all  dangers  as  far  as  in  my  po^yer  lies,  and  that  I 
will  bear  true  allegiance  to  His  Majesty,  and  assist  the  civil 
magistrates  in  the  execution  of  their  ofhces  if  called  upon, 
and  I  will  not  know  of  any  conspiracy  against  the 
Protestant  ascendancy  ;  and  that  I  will  not  make  or  be 
at  the  making  of  a  Roman  Catholic  an  Orangemaft,  or 
give  him  any  offence,  unless  he  of  ends  me,  and  then  J 
ivill  use  my  endeavors  to  shed  the  last  dm])  of  his  blood, 
if  he  or  thev  be  not  a  warranted  Mason,  and  that  I  will 


—  167  — 

stand  three  to  ten  to  relieve  a  brother  Orangeman,  and  I 
will  not  be  a  thief,  or  the  companion  of  a  thief,  to  mj 
knowledijje." 

AMENDED   TEST. 


— A  secret  to  you. 


•on 


ere. 


whence  came 
the  land  of  bonda^ 
Lcr  o-oeth  thon  ? 
3  land  of  promise. 
— Have  yon  got  a  pass-word  ? 


— i  have. 


"Q.- 

-What'i 

"  A.- 

-A  seci 

"Q.- 

-From 

"A.- 

-From 

"Q.- 

-Whith 

"A.- 

-To  th( 

''Q.- 

-Have 

"A.- 

—I  hav( 

"Q.- 

-AVill  ^ 

"A.- 

-I  did 

"Q.- 

-Will : 

"A.- 

-I  will 

"Q.- 

— Mfj'cl 

"A.- 

-Delzo 

"  Q.- 

-What 

'^  A.- 

-The  V 

"Q.- 

—I  am  i 

"A.- 

-Of  wl 

"Q.- 

-The  S 

"A.- 

—Fear  i 

"Q.- 

-Have 

«A.- 

—I  hav< 

"Q.- 

-Did  y 

s  that  in  yonr  hand  ? 


'ou  give  it  to  me  ? 
— I  did  not  get  it  so  ? 

you  halve  it,  or  letter  it  ? 
— I  will  halve  it. 


,  throngh  the  Red  Sea. 
red  Sea  ? 

vail  of  the  Red  Sea. 
afraid  ! 

hat  ] 


lecret  of  Orangemen  being  discovered. 

not,  for  he  that  sought  your  life  is  dead. 

you  got  a  grand  word  ? 

e  the  grand,  1  am  that  I  am. 

ou  hear  the  crack  \ 


—  1  (;s  — 

"  A.— I  did. 

"  Q  — What  crack  did  you  hear  ? 
"  A. — A  crack  from  the  hill  of  the  fire. 
'*  Q. — Can  you  write  your  rame  ? 
"A. — I  can. 

"  Q. — With  what  sort  of  a  pe^'  ? 

''  A. — With  the  spear  of  life,  or  Aaron's  rod,  that  buds, 
blossoms,  and  bears  almonds  in  one  night. 
"  Q.— With  what  sort  of  ink  ? 
"A.— Papist  blood." 


OBLIGATION  OF  AN  ORANGEMAN. 


swe; 


own 


ii 


"  I  do  solemnly  and  sinccn 
will  and  accord,  that  I  will,  to  the  utmost  of  my  powers 
support  and  defer  '.  the  ])resent  Kin^,  all  the  heirs  of  the 
Crown,  so  long  as  he  o?'  they  support  the  Protestant 
ascendency^  the  constitutions  and  laws  of  these  King- 
doms, and  that  I  will  ever  hold  sacred  the  name  of  our 
glorious  deliverer,  William  thr  Tliird,  Prince  of  Oi'ange  ; 
and  I  do  further  swear,  that  J  am  not  or  waj«  not  a  Roman 
Catholic  or  Papist ;  that  \  was  not,  am  not,  nor  ever  will 
be  an  United  Irishman ;  ;ind  that  I  never  took  the  oath 
of  secrecy  to  that  society  ;  and  I  do  further  swear,  in  the 
presence  of  Almiglity  God,  that  I  will  always  conceal, 
and  never  will  reveal,  either  part  or  ])art  of  tliis  that  I 
am  now  al)out  to  receive,  neither  write  it,  nor  indite  it, 
stamp,  stain,  nor  engrave  it,  nor  cause  it  so  to  be  done, 


—  169  — 


on  paper,  parchment,  leaf,  bark,  brick,  stone,  or  anything 
80  that  it  Tiiiirht  be  known,  and  I  am  now  become  an 
Orangeman  witliont  fear,  bribery,  or  corruption.  So  help 
me  God  ! " 

How  could  it  be  possibly  denied,  after  .  .o  authenticity 
of  the  above,  that  Orangeism  is  the  untiring  foe  of 
Catholicism,  on  the  same  principle  that  knavery  hates 
honesty;  vice,  virtue;  cvimc,  Lp«:;  cowardice,  bravery,  and 
as  true  as  ruffianism  will  always  execrate  benevolence  and 
humanity,  an  Orangeman  will  abhor  a  Catholic. 

The  fate  of  Ireland  will  remain  in  universal  history 
aB  an  eternal  curse  against  Great  Britain,  and  what  the 
United  Irishmen  had  to  suffer  in  Ireland  at  the  hands  of 
the  Orange  Apostles,  French  Canadians  aiul  their  brothers, 
the  Irish  Catholics,  living  in  the  Dominion,  have  every 
reason  to  expect  at  the  hands  of  their  common  enemy, 
the  Canadian  Orangeism. 

The  oath  taken  by  an  Orangeman  in  entering  the 
Order  can  leave  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  the  aim  of  their 
organization :  unrelenting  persecution  and,  if  possible, 
entire  extermination  of  all  who  beloni2:  to  the  Church  of 
Rome. 

They  swear  to  defend  and  support  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power,  the  King  and  all  the  heirs  of  ihe  Crown,  so 
long  afi  he  or  they  support  the  Protestant  ascendancy. 

They  also  most  solemnly  swear  that  they  will  endeavor 
to  shed  the  last  drop  of  CathoVic  hlood. 

Meditate  carefully  over  the  above,  French  Canadians 


170  — 


t, 

I 

'    ■  r-- 


I 
I, 


f. 


) 


and  Iripli  Catliolics,  and  see,  if  you  can,  wliat  yon  innst 
expect  in  tlie  future  from  a  Government  niid  a  dynasty 
that  can  a('ee])t  Kueli  an  alle_i;ianee,  and  protect  tliose  who 
take  it,  i?i  the  name  of  God  ! 

There  is  oidy  one  solution  to  this  ineredil)lc  hut  un- 
deniahh' state  of  iiifairs:  Clioleni,  small-pox,  mortal  fev^- 
ers,  deadly  pestilence  may  ravMij:e  your  population  and 
carry  away  hy  the  hundreds  your  wives,  your  mothers, 
your  cliihiren.  Fire  can  destroy  in  a  few  moments  your 
homes  and  your  property.  Famine  may  knock  at  your 
doors  and  st;irv^ation  enter  your  tiouses ;  hut  your  most 
dreadful  enetny,  whose  hhjod-thirsty  hatred  and  merci- 
less execration  will  never  cease  to  pursue  you,  is  the 
Orang<Mnan,  who  will  (Mideavor  to  shed,  in  the  name  of 
his  (ro(i  the  last  drop  of  your  Catholic  hlood.  It  is  that 
incnrahle  nnd  pitiless  ulcer  of  humanity  against  which 
vou  must  iruard  youi'selves  and  those  whom  you  love. 

"  Forgive  our  Trespasses  as  we  Forgive  those  who  Tres- 
pass against  us." 

This  divine  prayer  was  taught  to  you  hy  your  motliers, 
you  teach  its  suhlimity  to  your  children,  and  while 
every  rveniuir  you  and  yours  let  tour  christian  souls  ask 
your  (iod  fo  exte'id  his  pardon  over  your  enemies,  the 
swori!  wolvos  nf  William  of  Orange  are  grinding  their 
teetii,  r'l  tt  disciple^'  of  Orangeism  are  loading  their  guns 
and  sharpen rij;-  their  daggers  in  order  to  be  ready  to  fall 


-  171 


'I! 


upon  yon  at  the  fii'st  o]-)portnnity,  and  rest  Ji?snred  that 
they  will  then  do  all  in  their  power  to  s/i^yJ  the  laaf  drop 
of  iiour  hi 00(1 . 

Canadian  C/atholics,  whatever  yon  may  be,  French  or 
Irish,  remember  Riel  and  beware  of  what  the  Orange 
tigers  are  keeping  in  store  for  yon  ! 


At  the  moment  when  T  was  about  tinisliing  this  nnprc- 
tentious  book,  I  read  the  following  in  one  of  the 
New  York  papers,  and  I  do  nut  think  that  it  will  be  out 
of  place  here : 

Several  papers  have  affirmed  recently  that  Riel  is  of 


(k 


Irish 


oriirm. 


u 


This  fact  is  perfectly  established  by  Abbe  Tanguay 


author  of  the  Dietionnau'e  Genrohx/ique. 

"  Here  is  what  the  distinguished  Ai)be  says  : 
"An  emigrant  named  Jean  P>aptiste  Reel  (alias  Riel) 
"•  son  of  .lean  Ba[)tiste  Riel  nnd  Louise  Lafontaine  (  Foun- 
tain) was  l)orn  in  the  ])arish  of  Saint  Pierre,  city  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  and  married,  at  He  Dupas,  on  2Lst 
of  January,  1704,  Louise,  daughter  of  Fraiu;oi^  Cottu. 
'•Their  eldest  son,  Jean  l)a]>tiste,  was  bai'tized  on 
"June  12th,  1705,  at  the  same  place,  and  marr  1  in  1732, 
"Marie  Louise  Frapier,  he  had  been  nick-named  'Ire- 
"land/  I'^roni  this  marriage  were  boi'ii  sevei'al  '■iiihh-en, 
"anionic:  whom  Jean  lKi])tiste.  who  married  in  17>^2,  Mary 
"  Collin.     Several  of  their  children  were  l)orn  av.A  baptiz- 


a 


a 


a 


ed  at  St.  Cuthbert,  Berthier  Co.,  Canada. 


172 


"Their  son,  Jean  Haptistc,  eir.iiijratLMl  to  tlio  Xortli- 
"  west,  where  lie  married  a  French  Ilalf-breed  girl.  She 
"  made  him  the  father  of  a  son  who  was  baptized  under  the 
"  name  of  Louis. 

"  This  Louis  married  .lulie  Lagimodiere,  and  their  son 
"  was  the  same  Louis  Reil,  the  leader  of  the  last  insurrec" 
"  tion." 

I  shall,  of  course,  leave  the  responsibility  of  the  above 
statement  to  the  learned  Abbe  Tanguay,  I  only  reproduce 
it  as  'Torthy  of  notice. 

T'rench  or  [rish,  Riel  is  a  martyr,  and  the  Canadian 
Catholics  will  forever  remember  his  name  and  those  of 
his  assassins. 


■ 


rth- 
She 
the 

son 
rec" 

•ove 
luce 

iian 
;  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


AND 


MENTARY. 


;  t 


r   I- 


i- ' 


:l-  : 


BIOGRAPHICAL  AND  DOCUMENTARY. 


VIII. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH   OF  LOUIS   DAVID  RIEL 

TO    1869. 


Louis  David  Riel  was  born  in  ^laiiitoba,  in  1^40,  from 
tlic  marriage  of  Louis  Kiel  and  Jnlie  de  Lagimodiere. 
His  grandfatlier  was  a  French  Canadian  and  his  graiid- 
motlier  a  "  Franco- Montagnaise.  " 

His  fatlier  had  I'eceived  an  elementary  education  of 
no  mean  order,  and  pi-obably  on  that  account  actjuired  a 
marked  influence  among  the  French  Half-breeds. 

He,  Kiel's  father,  was  for  three  years  in  tiie  service  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  l)ut  left  liis  situation  in  order 
to  continue  his  studies  under  the  Ohlats  fathers  with  whom 
he  lived  for  a  ])eriod  of  two  years.  Later  on  he  came 
back  to  the  North-we.-^t  and  established  the  first  Hour  mill 
ever  known  in  the  country. 

Louis  Kiel  is  still  remembered  in  ^Manitoba  as  a  man 
of  sound  judgment,  great  bravery,  and  undoubted 
patriotism.  His  fondness  for  his  family  was  unbounded 
and  he  could  count  his  friends  by  the  thousand,  not  only 
among  his  own  pjople  but  also  among  the  whole  popula- 
tion of  that  vast  and  rich  country. 


17« 


111 


J 


In  1840,  the  tyranny  of  the  IIudKon  I'ay  Company's 
authorities  became  nnbearal)le  and  ferocious. 

The  Metis,  who,  as  I  have  already  stated,  were  tlie 
direct  means  of  tlie  making  of  the  incalculable  fortunes 
earned  ( '{  )  by  the  Adventurers  of  Entrland,  were  treated 
with  utter  contempt. 

The  laws  issued  by  the  government  of  this  Company 
on  the  tratHc  in  furs,  had  been  constructed  in  such  a  way 
as  to  keep  the  entire  population  in  complete  and  abject 
servitude. 

The  traffic  with  the  United  States  w^as  a  crime  of  the 
worst  kind  and  was  punished  unmercifully. 

The  Metis  who,  in  order  to  secure  these  furs,  were 
obliged  to  brave  all  sorts  of  dangers,  and  to  undergo 
indescribable  privations  and  fatigue,  were  not  allowed  to 
sell  the  produce  of  their  yeai-ly  hunting  expeditions  to 
any  other  traders  but  the  officers  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company. 

The  prices  set  for  their  goods  were  ridiculously  low, 
while  those  they  were  obliged  to  pay  for  provisions  and 
clothing  were  arbitrarily  high. 

The  stores  were  buying  very  cheap  and  selling  very 
dear.  A  Metis  was  not  even  allowed  to  correspond  in 
writing  with  any  party  or  parties  living  outside  of  the 
British  territory. 

They  were  obliged  to  deposit  their  letters  unsealed 
and  open  in  the  stores  of  the  Company.  These  letters 
were  carefully  perused  by  the  chief  employee  before 
being  forwarded  to  their  destination. 

The  government  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  went 
so  far  as  to  issue  a  law  forbidding  the  Metis  to  wear  or  use 
furs  in  any  shape  or  form — such  rapacity  will  seem  incre- 


h\ 


i  t 


(lil)lo,  l)iit  it  li;i>  iiovtTtlioloss  l>cc!)  enacted   l»v  a  corivira 


tioii  of  a<lvciiturcrs    wliosc   la 


w 


IIIM     Cill-t  If  lltloll     WiVC 


saiictioiiod  and  protectcMl  by  the  Inipi^rial  Ciovri'nimnt  of 
Kni^'and. 

Now,  let  mo  ask,  is  tlicro  any  man  breatliitiii"  the  pure 
air  of  IlfNivcn,  wlio  will  not  >liiiddei'  at  tlu;  nierc  tliou<j;lit 
of  such  barbarity  ( 

Is  there  any  livinii;  er(;at ure  of  (Jod  who  will  cons- 
c'ientiouhly  condemn  the  I'^rench  1  Ialf-bri'e(|s  for  hayinj^ 
tried,  at  the  ))eril  of  tlicii'  lives,  to  b!'(>,ik  the  iron  circK;  in 
which  they  liye*!  for  oyiM-  a  century. 


Is  tl 


len;  a  nation  on    rhe 


ac 


<.'  ot'  the  (Mi'th    which  will 


blaniethe.se  un ha p|>yiind  [)crse.'n!id.-onoof  the  wild  ])rairie.s 
for  hayiii<jf  made  a  siiprenu;  ctfort  in  ordi.T  to  proyc  to  ciyl- 
lization  that  althono'h  boni  and  liyinu-  in  the  wildei'iie.ss 
of  an  immense  and  almost  unknown  coinitry,  th(>v  \yere 
nevertheless  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  bi'oilici-hood  of 
humanity. 

Louis  Kiel  was  the  iirst  to  understand  that  such  treat- 
ment at  the  hands  of  the  Hudson  Bay  ('om[)an\'  was  an 
ontra^e  against  common-sense  and  mankind. 

ITe  refused  to  be  convinced  that  the  Adventurers  (»f 
Euii'land  had  any  ri<»;ht  to  act  as  law-mak(.'rs.  judges,  and 
execntioiiers  at  the  same  tinu>. 

lie  protested  boldly  atjainst  a  state  of  thin <;'s  wlii(.'h 
\yas  slowly  but  surely  makinu'  ol'  his  countrynn':n  a 
persecuted  and  abjeut  race. 

To  the  otticers  of  the  Company  he  opi-nly  denied  the 
prerogatiye  of  constitutini:;  themscl\t's  abs(jlute  and 
oidy  buyers  and  sellers,  lawful  })ostmaster.>  and  -ii])i'cme 
rulers. 

The  cliects  of  ]m  protestations  ^verc  soon  felt  all  oyer 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

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o^ 


•rtfcSjiSP'^™" 


—  1 7S  — 


ill 


the  countrv  and  the  followinir  epis^rle  was  the  hcgiiuiing 
of  a  new  epoch  i'ov  tlie  Metis  : 

A  French  Ilalf-hreed.iiained  Saw  yer,  had  heeii  arrested 
under  the  cl)ar«re  of  sellintj;  furs  to  some  ])rivate  party. 

His  trial  was  to  take  place  on  the  ITtli  of  May  in  that 
year  (1849). 

On  that  day,  and  just  after  the|^jnd<»-e  had  taken  his 
seat,  Kiel  entered  the  court-rocjni  followed  hy  a  |)arty  of 
Metis.  lie  ])rorested  ajj^ainst  the  arrest  of  Sawyer,  and 
after  giving-  his  i-easons  for  acting-  thus,  he  released  the 
prisoner;  and  n<tt  ^atist^ed  with  this,  he  and  his  men 
went  to  the  Hudson  IJav  (.'on)])anyV  post  and  conipelleil 
the  othcers  to  surrender  the  furs  the}'  had  seized  from 
Sawver. 

From  that  day,  th(^  lii)erty  of  trade  i»ecame  an  accom- 
plished fact,  and  Kiel,  the  father,  is  the  man  who  is 
entitled  to  all  the  credit  for  it. 

With  the  example  of  such  a  fathei-  hefore  him,  it  was 
hut  natural  that  Louis  JJavid  liiel  he  designated  hy  his 
countrymen  as  their  leader  and  the  defender  of  their 
cause,  \n  the  insurrectional  movements  of  18<»9  and  18S5. 

Bishop  Alexander  Tache  was  the  first  to  discover  that 
there  was  in  the  young  Metis  a  visihleand  laudable  thirst 
for  study. 

It  is  t(>  that  distinguished  and  highly  venerated 
prelate  that  Kiel  owed  his  education. 

The  most  Reverend  Bisho])  succeeded  in  interesting 
Madame  Masson,  a  French-Canadian  lady,  mother  of  the 
present  Governor  of  the  Province  of  the  Quebec,  in  be- 
half of  the  young  Kiel. 

She  became  his  "•  protectrice,''  and  trough  he»'  solici- 


—  179  — 

tilde  and  tliat  of  the  worthy  Bishop,  Louis  David  Kiel 
was  sent  to  tl>.e  Colle«,^e  of  ^loiitreal. 

During  the  course  of  his  studies,  he  showed  a  sinmg 
liking  for  literature,  i)oetry  and  history  and  he  soon 
[)roved  that  he  was  a  born  orator. 

The  sweetness  of  his  dispositions  made  him  a  great 
favorite  among  his  teachers  and  schoolmates,  and  many 
of  his  contemporaries  n(jw  living  in  the  Province  of 
C^nebec,  and  occupying  high  official  or  j)rivate  positions, 
still  remember  him  as  an  ambitious  and  hard-working 
student. 

The  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  in  1S«;4,  was 
a  great  blow  to  Louis  David,  and  threw  into  his  sensitive 
nature  a  shadow  of  melancholy  and  sadness  which  remain- 
ed one  of  his  characteristics  nntil  his  last  day. 

His  widowed  mother  was  left  with  eight  children  to 
suppoit,  and  from  that  moment  he  was  considered  the 
head  of  the  family. 

Louis  David  Kiel  returned  to  Manitoba  in  18GG,  three 
years  before  thejirsi  rebellion. 


Before  ending  this  biographical  sketch  in  which  1  had 
an  oi)portunity  to  mention  again  the  name  of  Archbishop 
Taclie,  I  ask  to  be  permitted  to  state  once  more  that  the 
remarks  contained  in  my  second  chapter  about  the 
pamphlet  issued  by  this  vcMierable  prelate,  are  completely 
devoid  of  any  intention  of  blaming  his  action.  I  know 
how  staunch  and  sincere  are  his  love  and  devotion  for  his 
people  and  /  hare  icitnessed  too  many  proofs  of  his  un- 
bounded patriotism,  to  think  for  a  moment  that  his  real 


—  180 


'    < 


intentions  in  issiiinf]^  the  said  pamphlet  could  be  anything 
but  well  meant. 

My  sole  ol)je(*t  in  pointini;  out  the  indifference  shown 
by  younjz;  French  (■anadians  in  18()9,  durin<^  the  recruit- 
ini»:  of  the  expeditionary  corps,  was  to  advocate  with  all 
my  might  the  i)rinciple:  that  the  blunders  of  the  past 
ought  to  be  a  good  lesson  for  the  future,  and  that  now, 
more  than  ever,  French  Canadians  and  Catholics  of  all 
nationalities  in  Canada  will  have  to  look  sharp  and  be 
less  indifferent,  if  they  do  not  want  to  succumb  to  the 
untirinu:  hatred  of  Oranijeism. 

And  now.  a  few  words  more  before  leaving  my 
readers.  lias  the  exccntion  of  Louis  David  Kiel  pacified 
the  Half-breed  and  Indian  population^ 

Lias  the  cold  cruelty  of  the  Government  won  the 
ap]>roval  of  the  civili/ed  worlds 

No;  a  thousand  times,  no! 

A  little  less  negligence,  a  few  kind  words  and  a  wiser 
policy  would  have  done  more  toward  furthering  peace 
and  order  than  the  bloody  work  accomplished  by  the  fra- 
tricide Euijlish  bavonets  in  the  Saskatchewan. 

The  mend)crs  of  the  Ottawa  Cabinet  were  not  deserv- 
edly severe — they  were  awkwardly  and  criminally  cruel. 
They  thought  that  they  could  extinguish  a  rebellion  with 
human  blood. 

A  near  future  will  prove  that  the  blood  so  coolly  shed 
bv  their  hands  will  have  the  same  effect  as  coal  oil  on  a 

BURNING  FIUE  ! 


m 


—  181 


thing 

liown 
cruit- 
th  all 
I  past 
now, 
of  all 
nd  be 
to  the 

iicified 
)u  the 


I  wiser 
I  peace 
he  fra- 


deserv- 
/  cruel. 
3n  with 

[\y  shed 

IL  ON  A 


RfEL  ON  THE  NORTH-WEST  QUESTION. 

Encrhmd  has  affirmed  lier  suzerainty  over  tlie  North- 
west in  ir.To,  with  till'  sole  intention  of  sulmiittiiiir  that 
vast  territory  and  its  numerous  aborigines  under  the 
inonopolv  of  the  (."om])any  of  Adventurei's  of  the  Hudson 
Bay. 

The  chart  of  kinii"  Charles  IT.  gave  to  that  Company 
the  privilege  to  make  the  traffic  of  furs  in  those  countries, 
to  the  exclusion  of  all  other  ))eople,  and  deprived,  gratuit- 
ouslv,  the  North-west  of  its  I'iglit  to  transact  business 
with  the  world,  and  the  world  of  its  light  to  transact 
Inisiuess  with  the  North-we^t ;  it  frnstrated  the  North- 
west of  the  advantages  of  univer.-al  commerce,  and  it 
determined  the  loss,  to  mankind  in  general,  of  the  benefits 
that  could  be  derived  from  trafficking  with  tiie  tribes 
and  colons  of  that  great  territorv. 

What  helped  most  to  ruin  my  Indian  ancestors  of  the 
North-west,  was  the  fact  that  in  becoming  rich  at  their 
expense,  and  in  proportion  to  the  inliueiice  she  gained 
with  the  English  authorities,  that  Company  became  her- 
self a  government  of  the  Hudson  Bay  territory,  and 
governed  it  with  the  sole  view  of  satisfying  her  avarice 
and  cupidity. 

(Commercial  aristocnicv,  backed  bv  i^overn mental 
power  in  the  Company  proper,  made  of  that  band  of 
adventurers  an  ulcer,  a  monster  which  devoured  the 
North-west  and  its  immense  riches  in  fursj'or  more  than 
half  a  century. 

This  claim  made  of  my  countrv  bv  Eni^laml,  in  order 
to  deliver  it,  with  my  forefathers,  to  a  set  of  brigands, 


—  182  — 


I 


was  on  tho  side  of  England  an  abandonment  and  a 
profanation  of  hav  duties  of  suzerain.  And,  since  the 
history  of  her  domination  proves,  in  an  irreensable 
manner,  the  fact  that  slie  has  been  jiiuilty  of  sudi  a 
criminal  al)an(lonment,  I  avail  myself  of  it.  I  invoke 
that  international  treason,  which  she  has  nourished  the 
culpable  growth  from  KITO  to  Isll^.  I  denounce  the 
system  of  roberry  in  which  she  has  persisted  during  one 
liundred  and  seventy-nine  years.  1  declare  that  England 
lias  long  ago  forfeited  all  her  rights  to  govern  the  North- 
west. 

I  declare  my  country  free  from  lier  yoke  and  her 
tyranny,  supplicating  (rod,  whom  I  adore  most  reverently, 
to  sustain  me  and  to  sustain  my  declaration  ;  I  i)ray  man- 
kind to  Jielp  me  as  much  as  circumstaiu-es  will  permit, 
as  much  as  Providence  will  eiuible  it  to  do  so. 

Louis  David  Kiel. 


' 


RIEL'S  LETTER  TO  THE  "IRISH  WORLD." 


t 

I' 

r 
I 


n.. 


AX  APPEAL  lOPw  JUSTICE. 

To  th^i  Citizens  of  the  United  State's  of  America: 

Ekllow-1\[en  : — The  outside  world  has  heard  but 
little  of  my  people  since  the  beginning  of  this  war  in 
the  North-west  Territory,  and  that  little  has  been  related 
by  agents  and»  apologists  of  the  bloodthirsty  British  Em- 
pire. As  of  old,  England's  infernal  machination  of 
Falsehood  has  been  employed  to  defame  our  character, 
to  misrepresent  our  motives,  and  to  brand  our  soldiers 


—  183 


and  allies  as  cruel  savages.  Thevse  thiiio;s  1  learn  from 
American  papers  which  come  to  me  through  the  same 
channel  that  I  send  tiiis  to  yon.  The  end  which  our 
enemies  have  in  view  is  plain.  Their  object  is  to  pre- 
vent good  i)eople  from  extending  to  us  their  sympathy 
while  thev  themselves  mav  roh  us  in  the  dark  and  mur- 
der  us  without  ])ity. 

Of  one  hundred  or  more  papers  that  now  lie  in  my 
tent,  TJie  Irish  World,  1  tind  is  the  only  true  friend  we 
liave.  In  the  columns  of  this  far-famed  journal  the  tmth 
is  fully  told,  England's  organs  in  the  Fnited  States  and 
(Canada  falsely  aver  that  my  [)eo))le  have  no  grievani;es. 
To  contradict  their  false  statements  J  now  write  to  the 
defender  of  the  op])ressed,  Mr.  Patrick  Ford,  whose  Irish 
World  will  ])ublish  a  true  statement  of  the  facts  in  all 
corners  of  the  globe. 

Our  lands  in  the  North-west  Territory,  the  possession 
of  which  were  solemnlv  conHrmed  bv  the  Government 
fifteen  years  ago,  have  since  been  torn  from  us  and  given 
to  land-grabl)ers  who  never  saw  the  countrv — and  this 
after  we  had  cut  down  forests,  plucked  up  stumps,  re- 
moved rocks,  plowed  and  seeded  the  soil,  and  built  sub- 
stantial homes  for  ourselves  and  our  children. 

Nearly  all  the  good  available  lan<ls  in  this  territory 
(as  is  the  case  with  the  lands  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains) 
are  already  in  the  clutches  of  English  lords,  who  have 
large  herds  of  cattle  grazing  thei-eon  ;  and  the  riches 
which  these  lands  produce  are  drained  out  of  the  country 
and  sent  (»ver  to  l']ngland  to  be  consumed  by  a  people 
that  fatten  on  a  system  that  pauperizes  us. 

This  wholesale  robberv  and  burjrlarv  has  been  carried 
on,  and  is  still  carried  on,  with  the  connivance  of  accurs 


'^t 


—  184 


C(]  Eiin-land.  Tlic  ivsult  is  externiinatioi)  or  slavery. 
Against  tliis  iiioiistvous  tyniiinv  we  haw  hren  forced  to 
rebel.  It  is  nut  in  liwinan  natnre  to  quietly  acquiesce  in 
it. 

In  their  treatment  of  us,  however,  the  behavior  of  tlu; 
Enirlish  is  not  sin^iiljir.  Follow  those  ])irates  the  world 
over  and  you  will  iind  that  i-vervwhere  and  at  all  times 
tliev  adopt  the  sa'ne  tactics  and  operate  on  the  same 
thievish  lines. 

Ireland,  huiia,  the  Ilij^hlands  of  Scotland,  Australia, 
and  tlie  isles  of  the  In<lian  Ocean — all  these  countries  are 
the  sad  evidences  and  tlicir  native  |)(»pulations  are  the  wit- 
nesses of  1-jiij^land's  land  i-obberies. 

Even  in  the  I'nited  States — and  it  is  a  burninfi:  shame 
for  the  (lovernment  and  ])eople  of  that  great  and  free 
nation  to  have  it  to  be  said — English  Lords  have,  within 
a  few  short  years,  grabbed  territory  enough  to  form  sev- 
eral large  Stato.  Alas  I  tor  the  ])eople  of  your  country. 
Alas!  for  the  (Government  for  whose  independence  and 
glory  the  soldiers  of  (feorge  Washington  fought  bare-foot 
against  the  eut-throats  and  hell-hounds  of  England, — 
alas  I  tliat  this  same  evil  power  should  be  allowed  to  re- 
turn and  recoiKpier  so  much  of  your  nation  without  a 
shot  being  tired  or  even  a  word  of  protest  being  uttered 
in  the  name  of  the  American  ]wopleI 

Your  (roverument,  which  has  allowed  her  citizens  to 
be  robbed  of  their  heritage  by  English  Lords  and  English 
capitalists,  li:'.s  also  given  aid  and  comfort  to  the  English 
in  permitting  her  General  Howard  to  eonne  to  Manitoba 
and  the  Xorth -west  Territory  to  school  the  assassins  that 
were  sent  from  Toronto  to  murder  me  and  my  people, 
and  to  give  the  Queen's  Own  lessons  in  handling  the 


18:>  — 


America!!  (latlii)fj:  ^uii.  as  well  as  in  ^ratitini;  liccMisc  to 
Rritisli  sttlditM's  ami  Uritlsli  aiimnuiitioii  iiiteiulcd  for  our 
(k'stiuctioii  to  pass  over  Anu'i'ican  soil,  llv  its  condiict 
in  this  c'litirc  Imsiiirss  the  Adiiiiiiistratioii  at  \Vashin<;- 
toll  has  iiiadt'  the  riiited  States  the  ally  of  K!»;:;laiid  in 
fi^htln;^  a  jteople  who  uei'c  only  |»rotectin<jj  tlu'ir  homes 
and  tiresldes.  Docs  it  rcjiiire  two  powerful  nations  such 
as  the  riiire<l  States  and  Knuland  to  put  down  the  Sas- 
katchewan ivhellion  ^  (irover  Cleveland  and  Secretary 
Dayard  have  much  to  answer  for. 

It  is  now  evident,  as  The  Irish  Wnrlil  has  char^^ed, 
that  tliese  two  ]ii<;-h  ollicials  of  thr  Tnitcd  States  arc 
more  KnuhVli  than  American,  Tiie  animus  they  have 
shown  towards  my  people  and  me  for  the  past  two 
months,  as  well  as  the  friendship  and  aid  tliey  have  ex- 
tended to  <^ur  enemies,  is  hiir  an  additional  conlirmation 
of  what  has  been  cluu\i;'ed  a_ii:ainst  them. 

Can  it  he  ])ossil)le  that  the  American  people,  or  any 
considerable  portion  of  them,  have  any  real  sympathy 
with  KnjLiland  i  J  lave  tliey  not  read,  has  it  not  come 
down  to  them  from  bleeding  sire  to  son,  of  the  crimes 
and  atrocities  and  tiendi^h  cruelties  wliich  that  wicked 
power  intlicted  iii)on  their  ])atriotic  fathers  durini^  the 
Kevohition  i  Of  the  Amrrican  towns  wantoidy  given 
to  the  Hames  by  order  of  English  commanders,  of  the 
horrors  of  the  J-jiglish  ]irison  ships,  and  the  barbarities 
imposed  by  the  I'Jiglisli  npon  American  j)risonei's  of 
war?  Docs  not  American  liistoi'v  record  the  outraues 
perpetrated  by  England  upon  American  commerce  and 
American  citizenship  which  led  to  the  war  of  1S12? 
And  is  it  not  still  fresh  in  the  memory  of  men  of  middle 
age,  how,  when  the  Kcpublic  was  engaged  in  a  life-and- 


1S6  — 


iw 


(Icatli  struggle!  with  tlic  slavi'li()l(ler''8  rohullioii,  England 
gloated  oviT  your  trouhlus  and  sent  her  syniiKithy  and 
her  money  and  her  anned  shij)s  to  your  cnenileH  t<» 
destroy  vour  Union  and  to  bring  the  American  name 
in* 'J  disgrace  before  the  world  i  (rencrous  minds  forgive 
injuries,  but  si)a!iiel8  lick  the  hand  that  smites  them. 
The  Americans  are  not  spaniels  ;  but,  there  aresycopliants 
and  lickspittles  in  America,  nevertheless,  and  those  base 
natures  are  to  the  honest  people  of  to-day  what  the 
Tories  were  to  the  honest  and  patriotic  ])eo])le  of  a 
century  ago.     They  are  not   Americans. 

A  word  here  to  the  French  and  Irish  of  Canada, 
and  I  am  done:  I  beg  and  piMy  that  they  will  not 
allow  themselves  to  be  induci'd  by  any  threats  or  by 
any  blandislunents  to  come  out  a<j:ainst  u>.  Oiir  cause 
is  just,  and  therefore  no  just  man  of  aiiy  race  or 
nationality  ought  to  stand  opposed  to  ns.  The  enemies 
wlio  seek  our  destruction  are  strani'-ers  to  justice.  Thev 
are  cruel,  treacherous,  and  bloody.  And  yet,  like  the 
tiger,  tliey  are  oidy  obeying  the  institicts  of  tiieir  nature. 
But  for  the  Irish  people,  who  for  centuries  have  been 
robbed  and  massacred  and  hunted  from  their  island 
home  by  the  P^nglisli,  and  whose  good  name  is  reviled 
bv  the  Enijlish  in  all  lands,  or  for  the  Canadian  French, 
who  are  subjected  to  the  grossest  and  most  ruffianly 
abuse  from  the  same,  to  aid  in  anv  wav  these  enemies 
would  be  not  only  wrong  but  stupid  and   unnatural. 

In  a  little  while  it  will  be  all  over.  We  may  fail. 
But  the  rights  for  which  we  contend  will  not  die.  A 
day  of  reckoning  will  come  to  our  enemies  and  of 
jubilee  to  my  people.  The  hated  yoke  of  English 
domination  and  arrogance  will  he  broken  in  this  land, 


—  isl- 
and   tlu'    l(>nii:-sutTerini;'    victims    of  their  injustice'  will, 
with  (lod's  hk'ssiii*^,  ro-ciitLT  into  the  peaceful  eiiji>yiiieiit 
of  their  possessions. 

L«)l  IS    IviKi.. 

BATodiK,  N.-W.  T.,  Miiv  <;.  lssr». 


RIEL'S   LAST  LETTER    TO   HIS   MOTHER. 

Jjiat  ivlnhi'x  of  tlw  ffilhii  hero.  Il'i.s  finihi'  t'(n'<iiu>ll  fit 
his  iiiotln  r.  A  (ji'citt  jHitrtiif.  A  <h  tfti/  xon.  A 
loriny  /ih-sIkuhI  <iti<l  d  piud fnilur. 

My  Dkak  ISroiiiKK — 1  I'cccivcd  V(»nr  letter  of  hene- 
diction,  and  vesterdav,  Snndav,  1  asked  Pere  Andre  to 
place  it  npon  tlie  altar  durin<j  the  celebi-ation  <>f  mass  in 
order  that  1  mii,dit  he  held  under  the  shallow  of  its  hless- 
in<j^.  r  a>ked  him  afterward  to  place  his  hands  upon 
niv  head  that  \  miuht  worthily  I'eceive  it,  as  I  could  not 
attend  at  C'hurcli,  and  he  thus  had  diffused  u])on  me  the 
graces  of  mass,  with  its  ahundance  of  s))iritual  and  tem- 
poral good.  To  my  spouse,  to  my  children,  my  brother 
and  sister-in  law  and  other  relatives,  who  are  all  verv 
dear  to  me,  I  sav  farewell. 

Dear  mother,  it  is  the  prayer  of  3'our  eldest  son  that 
your  prayers  and  heset  chings  in  his  helialf  ascend  to  the 
throne  of  .lesu^^  ( 'hi'i.-t,  to  Mary  and  to  St.  Joseph,  my 
good  protector,  and  that  the  mercy  and  ahundant  con- 
solation of  (iod  till  vou  and  mv  wife,  children  and  other 
relatives  with  all  spiritual  hlessiugs  from  generation  unto 


188 


^(Mjcration,  on  nrcoiint  of  tlie  ^xrcjit  Messing  voii  have 
j)ouro(l  upon  mvsolf;  on  yiuii-Kclf  cspcciiillv  for  li;iviii«x 
Itt'cn  a  p»(m1  niotluT  1(»  me,  that  vour  faith  and  hope, 
your  charity  and  I'XainpU'  he  as  the  tree  laden  with  exeel- 
h'lit  flint  in  present  and  in  fnture,  and  wiien  your  last 
(hiy  arriyes  tliat  tlie  ^ood  (lo<l  shall  i)e  so  ninch  j)li'ased 
with  yonr  pions  spirit  that  he  will  hear  it  from  earth 
upon  the  win^s  (»f  anij^els.  Ft  is  now  two  o'clock  in  the 
niorninj;  of  niv  last  day  on  earth,  and  I'ere  Andre  has 
told  n)e  to  he  ready  for  the  irranil  eyent.  1  li>tene(l  to 
liim,  and  am  pre|mred  to  do  eyerythin^  accordinj;  to  Ids 
advice  and  earnest  recommendation.  (i<>d  holds  me  in 
his  hand  to  kee])  in  ))eace  and  sweetness  as  oil  held  in  a 
vessel  which  can  not  he  distnrhed.  1  do  what  1  can  to 
kee])  mvself  ready  for  any  event,  keej>in/^  myself  cahn  in 
accordance  witli  the  jtions  e.xhoi'tations  of  the  venerahle 
Arclibisliop  ]^onri;et. 

Yesterday  and  to-day  I  prayed  to  (iod  to  reasure  yon 
and  send  von  all  s\yeet  (consolation,  and  in  order  that  your 
heart  may  not  he  disturbed  by  anxiety  and  trouble  I  am 
brave,  and  I  kiss  you  all  with  alTection.  I  end)race  you 
as  a  dutiful  son,  and  my  dear  wife,  I  end)race  you  as  a 
Christian  husband,  according  to  the  conjugal  spirit  of  the 
Catholic  union.  1  embrace  you,  children,  in  the  breadth 
of  divine  mercy,  and  mv  l)rother  and  sisters-in-law  and 
all  relatives  and  friends,  1  embrace  you  with  all  the  good 
feeling  of  which  my  heart  is  capable. 

Dear  mother,  I  am  your  affectionate,  obedient  and 

submissive  son, 

Louis  David  Riel. 

Prison  of  Regina,  November  16,  18S5. 


18«  — 


LOUIS  RIEL'S    WILL, 


ro 


A    I'ATin.lK;    TKSI  A.MI;N  r — IIK    I.KAVKS    NuT    liOLD    Ul  1    GOOD 

ai)vu;k  to  his  ciiildkkn. 

Full(»\vin^  is  a  copy  of  liicl's  will. 

In  ))rison  at  lici^iiri. 

Tkstamknt  of  Loris  David  Mw.i.. 

I  iiiaki!  my  tcstainoiit  according  tu  ('(nih^el  given  ine 
1)V  Ucv.  Fatlicr  Alexis  Andre,  inv  charitaMe  confessor 
and  most  devoted  director  of  mv  (Conscience. 

* 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son  and  of  the 
Holy  (Jhost,  I  declare  that  this  is  my  testament,  that  I 
have  written  it  freely  in  the  fullest  possession  of  my 
faculties. 

Men  having  iixed  the  lOth  of  Novend)er  next  as  that 
of  my  death,  and  as  it  is  possihle  the  sentence  will  he 
executed,  I  declare  heforehand  that  mv  submission  to  the 
orders  of  Providence  is  sincere.  My  will  is  ranged  with 
entire  liberty  of  action,  under  the  influence  of  the  Divine 
( i race  and  our  Lord  Jesus  (  lirist,  on  the  side  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church,  I  was  born  in  it  and  it 
is  by  it  that  I  have  been  led  into  the  way  of  grace.  It  is 
by  her  also  that  I  have  been  regenerated. 

I  have  retracted  what  I  have  said  and  professed  con- 
trary to  her  teaching,  and  1  retract  it  again.  I  ask  par- 
don for  the  scandal  1  have  caused.  I  do  not  wish  that 
there  should  be  a  difference  between  ii.o  and  the  priest- 
hood of  Jesus  Christ  as  great  of  the  point  of  a  needle.  If 
I  should  die  on  the  10th  of  the  month — that  is  to  say,  in 
four  days — I  wisli  to  do  all  in  niy  power  with  the  divine 
succors  of  my  Saviour  to  die  in  perfect  harmony  with  my 


—  190    - 


b 


t'^X 


Creator,  my  Redeemer,  mv  Saiictitier,  and  with  the  Holy 
Catholic  Cliurch,  and  if  my  God  wishes  lie  will  aecord 
me  the  gift  inestimable  of  life,  I  wish  on  mv  side  to 
mount  the  scaffold,  and  to  resign  myself  to  the  will  and 
end  of  Providence  hy  holding  myself  apart,  as  1  ani  to- 
day, from  all  earthly  things,  for  I  understand  the  most 
certain  means  of  doing  well,  and  of  having  durable  fruits 
is  to  practice  and  perform  all  enterprises  in  a  manner 
entirely  disinterested,  witiiout  passion,  without  excite- 
ment, entirely  in  sight  of  (iod  while  loving  your  neigh- 
bor, vour  friend  and  V(jur  enemy  as  vourself.  For  the 
love  of  (lod. 

I  thank  my  good  and  tender  mother  for  having  loved 
me,  and  for  having  loved  me  with  a  love  so  Christian. 
I  denumd  of  her  ])ardun  for  all  the  faults  of  which  I  have 
been  guilty  against  the  love,  the  respect  and  obedience 
that  I  owe  her.  I  beg  of  her  co  pardon  also  the  faults 
that  I  have  connnitted  against  my  duty  toward  my  well 
loved  and  regretted  father,  and  toward  his  venerable 
memory. 

I  thank  my  brothers  and  sisters  for  their  great  love 
and  kindness  to  me.  J  also  ask  their  pardon  for  my 
faults  of  all  kinds  and  for  all  the  errors  for  which  I  have 
been  culpable  in  their  eyes. 

1  thank  my  I'elatives  and  the  relatives  of  my  wife  for 
always  being  so  good  and  gentle  to  me,  in  particular  my 
affectionate  and  well  loved  father-in-law,  my  mother-in- 
law,  my  brothers-in-law,  and  my  sisters-in-law.  I  beg  of 
them  also  to  pardon  whatever  has  not  been  right  in  me, 
all  that  has  been  evil  in  my  conduct. 

I  give  the  hand  of  true  friendship  to  my  friends 
of  all  ages,  of  all  ranks,  of  all  conditions,  and  of   all 


1    ; 


-  101 


positions.  I  thank  them  for  the  serviees  they  have 
rendered  me.  Particuhirly  am  I  grateful  toward  my 
friends  who  have  <]eigned  to  busy  themselves  with  my 
affairs  in  public  botli  on  this  and  the  other  side  of  the 
line.  To  tl»e  ol)hites  of  Marie  Immaeulate,  the  ISociety 
of  St.  Sul])ice,  to  the  (ti'ey  Nuns  for  all  the  good  and 
kindness  1  have  received  from  them  from  my  infancv  I 
return  them  my  thanks. 

1  have  benefactors  on  the  other  side  of  the  line, 
friends  who^e  goodness  tt)  me  has  been  beyond  measure.  1 
beg  of  them  to  a('ce})t  my  thanks,  and  to  charitably  excuse 
my  defects,  and  if  mv  conduct  has  in  anv  way  been  olfen- 
sive  to  them,  whether  in  snudl  or  great  matters,  I  beg  of 
them  to  j)ardon  me  while  taking  into  account  the  excuse.-, 
that  may  be  in  my  favor  as  to  the  real  sum  of  my  faults, 
"  X ice  capabilities''  [  have.  They  will  have  goodness 
to  forgive  tliem  all  l»efore  (iod  and  man. 

/  jxf/'t/o/i  irit/i  all  inij  haii't,  irit/i  nil  inij  mh-d^ 
icith  all  nil/  forc>\  (cif/i  all  my  wal^  those  who  hare 
van.sed  aw  chaijrlit,  ich<>  have  </lven  aw  pa'tn^  who  have 
done  me  hann^  and  Jiace per^^eeaied  ine^  a^ho  have  iclthout 
any  reason  made  u'ar  on  me  for  Jive  years,  ivho  have 
(jlven  me  the  semhiance  of  a  trial,  who  have  condeiiined 
me  to  death,  and  if  they  really  mean  to  give  me  to 
death  1  pardon  them,  this  as  I  ask  God  to  pardon  me 
all  my  offences  entirely  in  the  name  (jf  Jesus  Christ. 

I  thank  my  wife  for  having  been  so  good  and  char- 
itable to  me.  for  the  part  she  has  so  patiently  taken  in 
my  painful  works  and  difficult  enterprises.  I  pray  her 
to  pardon  me  the  sadness  I  have  voluntarily  and  in- 
vohmtarily  caused,  I  recommend  to  her  the  care  of  her 
little  children — to  bring  them  up  in  a  Christian  manner, 


,'l  1^ 


192 


M^ 


with   particular   attention    to   all   that   rel.itcs   to    good 
thoughts,  good  actions,  and  good  conij)anions. 

I  desire  that  nij  chihh-en  may  he  l)rouglit  up  with 
great  care  in  all  that  helongs  to  obedience  to  the  church, 
their  masters  and  superiors.  I  urge  them  to  show  the 
greatest  respect,  the  greatest  submission,  and  the  most 
complete  affection  toward  their  good  mother.  I  do  not 
leave  to  my  children  gold  or  silver,  but  I  beg  (lod  in 
His  infinite  pity  {Je  siipplle  le,s  cntrailles  de  la  mlse- 
rlcorde  de  Dleii)  to  till  my  mind  and  my  heart  witli  the 
truly  paternal  blessing  which  I  desire  to  give  them. 
.Ikan,  mon  Jiln,  Marie-Angeli(jue,  iiiu  jilU\  I  bless  you 
in  tlie  name  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  so  that  you  may  be  attenlive  to  know  the  will  of 
God  and  faithful  to  accomplish  it  in  all  jncty  and  in  all 
sincerity  ;  that  you  may  practice  virtue  solidly,  but  simply, 
without  ])arade  or  ostentation;  that  you  do  the  most  good 
possible  while  holding  to  yourself,  without  l)eing  wanting 
to  others  within  the  limits  of  just  obedience  to  the  ap- 
proved bishops  and  the  ])riests,  esi)ecially  to  your  bishop 
and  vour  confessor.  1  bless  you  that  vour  death  may  be 
sweet,  edifying,  good  and  holy  in  the  eye  of  the  Church 
and  in  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,  Amen. 

I  bless  you  in  tine  that  you  mav  seek  and  iind  the 
Kingdom  of  God,  and  that  you  may  have  moreover 
rest  in  Jesus,  in  Mary  and  in  Joseph.  Pray  for  me. 

I  leave  my  testament  to  the  Rev.   Pere  Andre,  my 

confessor.  I  pray  my  friends  eyery  where  to  hold  the  name 

of  Pere  Andre  side  by  side  with  my  own.     I  love  Father 

Andre. 

Louis  David  Kiel, 

Sun  of  Louis  Kiel  and  of  Julie  de  Lagimodiere. 


A    POS  T SCR  IP  TUM: 


A  chapter  is  mL-ssinu-  in  this  wc^rk.  Wirhniit  it  '\\\v. 
TiiUTii   ABoiT   IiiKL  Would  he  incomplete. 

By  riiJjht,  that  ehajiter  should  cover  a  lari^^e  iiinnher  of 
pages,  and  then  it  would  hut  imperfectly  demonstrate  the 
zeal,  courage  and  ahucgatiou  of  a  group  of  j)atrioti(; 
and  intelligent  men  who  foresaw,  and  predicted  as  it  were, 
the  still  iucredihle  douhle-faced  and  cowardlv  policy  of 
the  Ottawa  ("ahinet. 

With  limited  means  hut  with  unHmited  patrioti>m, 
these  hrave  and  righteous  men  handed  together  and  set  to 
work  to  save  Kiel's  life  and  their  country  from  the  inde- 
lihle  stigma  the  Orange  ci-ime  of  Kegina  has  hi-anded 
upon  its  forehead  I 

For  more  than  five  months  these  patriotic  men  worked 
like  hea\'ei's  to  wrest  from  the  dastardly  foe  the  head  upon 
which  an  arrogant  and  des])icahle  oligarchy  hath  set  its 
mind  of  sacrificing  to  its  intolerance  and  higotry. 

When  the  Liheral  ])i-ess  took  in  hand  the  defence  of 
Kiel,  the  tools  of  the  Ottawa  (iovernment  would  say 
to  the  timid:  '*  r»e  careful,  don't  mix  yourselves  with 
"this  liheral  agitatio]].  There  is  a  political  scheme  uii- 
"  derlying  all  this ;  the  Liherals  know  full  well  that  iiiel  will 
"  not  he  hung,  and  they  are  making  j)olitical  capital  out<.f 
"  the  necessary  cautiousness  and  tardiness  of  the  Govern 


n>4 


ii! 


1 1 


"  iiieiit,  who  is  forced  to  siicli  a  course  in  order  to  keep 
"  tlie  Orange  faction  in  the  traces." 

AVHien  generous  and  disinterested  citizens  were  remark- 
ing that  money  would  be  necessary  to  pay  the  legal  ex- 
penses of  Kiel's  case,  those  same  gov^ernmental  tools  would 
say  from  door  to  door,  in  the  streets,  in  the  parlors  and 
even  in  the  counting-rooms  :  "  Why  subscribe  (  Has  not 
"  the  Govei-nment  promised  to  defray  the  necessary  costs  'i 
"  Did  not  Sir  Langevin  made  a  solemn  pledge  to  have  a 
"  medical  eonmiission  aj^pointed,  and  is  not  all  this  equi- 
"  valent  to  an  otiicial  guarantee  that  Kiel  will  not  be 
"hnngT' 

Furthermoi'e,  when  a  Committee,  composed  of  men 
from  all  political  parties,  was  formed,  those  very  same 
tools  again  attempted  by  all  means  to  throw  cold  water 
upon  the  movement.  "  Be  careful, ''  they  would  say, 
"  do  not  unwittingly  embarrass  the  action  of  the  Govern - 
"  ment.  The  position  of  the  Ministers  is  rather  delicate. 
"  The  Confederation  has  within  its  borders  other  elements 
"  than  FrenclrCanadians,  and  since  the  Ministers  are  set 
"  upon  saving  Kiel,  they  ought  to  be  left  to  choose  their 
"  own  good  time  and  means." 

Fortunately  that  there  was  a  group  of  intelligent  and 
brave  men  who  saw  clearly  through  all  this  hypocrisy,  and 
weredetermined  upon  saving  Eiel  if  unalloyed  devotedness 
could  accomplish  that  object.  The  following  Committee 
was  formed  in  Montreal  to  receive  subscriptions  and  make 
all   necessary   arrangements  to  organize  the  defence   of 


195 


Riel,  every  name  upon  that  Committee  should  be  lionorod 
by  nil  those  who  prize  nobleness  of  aim  and  disinterest- 
edness of  motives. 

Following  is  the  Roll  of  Honor: 
L.  ().  David,  President ;  Chas.  C.  Delorimier,  1st 
Vice-President;  R.  Pkefontaine,  2d  Vice-President; 
Charles  Champagne,  Secretary  ;  A.  E.  Poirier,  Assis- 
tant-Secretary ;  Jeremie  Perrault,  Treasurer;  J.  O. 
Drnis,  Assistant-Treasurer. 

Executive  Committee. — R.  Laflamme  ;  II.  C.  St. 
Pierre;  Alphonse  Christix  ;  Pierre  Rivard  ;  E.  L. 
Ethier;  Barney  Tansey  ;  E.  A.  Dkrome  ;  Georges 
Duhamel  ;  Jeax-Marti-:  Papineat  ;  G.  Phaneuf  ;  J. 
O.  Villeneitve;  A.  OriMET,  and  J.-Bte.  Rouillard. 
Many  other  public-spirited  men  also  lent  untiring  help 
to  the  generous  movement.  Impossible  to  mention  them 
all,  but  among  the  principals  are  the  Ilonorables  Mekcier, 
Beaubien,  Amyot,  Desjardins,  Paquette,  Rellerose, 
Lemieux,  Fitzpatrick,  Langelier,  Pacaud,  Clorax  of  the 
Montreal  Daily  Post^  Barry,  Stevens,  McShane,  E. 
Tremblay  and  A.  Globenskv. 

Unsuccessful  to  wrest  from  the  Ottawa  Cabinet  an<l 
the  Orange  faction  the  life  of  Louis  Riel,  and  save  their 
country  the  humiliation  of  a  political  gibbet,  these  men, 
however,  have  not  left  a  stone  unturned  in  order  to  secure 
their  unselfish  and  noble  aim,  and  they  should  be  honored 
and  praised  for  their  devotion  to  principles  of  uprightness 
and  liunianity. 


INDEX. 


Preface, 


PAGF. 

2 


I. TfIE    TkITII    ABOIT    KlEL, 


r 


u\i 


lii'^i 


Can  Rid  be  cliarged  with  rebellion  ? 

riow  were  the  Metis  treated  foi*  years? 

The  ProviRional  (Toverinneiit, 

The  Red  River  expedition, 

On  to  theni !  Kill  them ! 

A  pamphlet,        .... 

Thomas  Scott, 

Self-defence,        .... 

The  troops  in  Manitoba, 

Atrocities  committed  by  the  Ontario 

References,      .... 

CV)lonel  Wolseley's  blunder, 

A  simple  question, 

Half-breeds  dispossessed  by  Ontario  speculators,     36 

Riel  offers  his  services  to  the  Government. — 

They  are  accepted,  ....  38 

Riel  elected  at  Provencher,     ....       39 
The  Government's  cowardice,      ...  39 


.   20 

21 
.   23 

23 
.   25 

26 
.   28 

29 

.   31 

A^olunteers,     33 

.       34 

35 
.       36 


II.- Fifteen  Yeaks  of  Pehsecution. 


41 


The  I'cal  causes  of  the  rebellions  of  1809  and 
of  1885, 43 


.  .  ,1  i  t 


—   1!>7    - 


17 

20 
21 
23 
23 
26 
26 
28 
29 
31 
33 
34 
36 
36 
36 

38 
39 
39 

41 
43 


1869 

1870,  .....  .         . 

Self-defence,   ....... 

An  infamous  treaclierv,       .... 

1S71,      ..." 

1S72 

Those  ( )rani;e  laml)s  I      ....         . 

Arhitrary  judicial  decision, 

Another  amnesty,  but  conditioned  on  exile,     . 

What  led  to  the  rebellion  of  1885,       . 

Riers  happy  home  in  ]\[anitoba, 

Riel's  persecuted  countrymen  beg  for  his  aid. 

The  voice  of  patriotism,      .... 

An  historical  comparison,        .... 

( 'Onstitutional  a^^itation  and  the  right  of  petition 

met  by  muskets,       ..... 
The  insurrection  of  1885,         .... 


III. — Opinion  of  the  Press, 


PAGE. 

43 
44 

46 
48 
41) 
51 

62 
64 

65 
66 

6!) 
7<> 
71 

2 


^ 

73 
74 


78 


Obstinacy  is  no  substitute  for   honor. — JV.   Y. 

Herald 70 

The  American  View  of  the  Kiel  case. — Central 

Law  Journal,  of  St.  Louis,      ...  80 

Kiel's  blood  will  be  on  Sir  John's  hands. — jV.  Y. 

Herald, 81 

Nothing  gained  by  iianging. — Baltimore  Tunea,  82 
"  I  wish  to  God   i  could  catch  him  !  "— .V.   Y. 

Herald, 83 

Canada   statesmanship  at  fault.  —  Washington 


Post  . 


83 


19,^ 


PAGE. 


h 


w 


*'.. 


84 
So 

85 
8(> 

86 


AVill  Canadianfi  Rubmit  to  Riioh  an  atrociouR  UBe 
of  influence  i — AV?/?  York  Ihvahl, 

Much  in  extenuation. — Memphh  Appeal^  . 

A  costly  blunder  threatened. —  Washhnjfnn  Re- 
puhlican^     ....... 

He  will  die  a  martyr. — Ilavtford  Post^ 

I  )efiance  of  civilized  sentiment. —  Boston  Trnns- 
crlpt^ 

Sliort-sighted policy. — A  ustinSt(it(\wi(t}}  (Texas),    86 

A  solemn  prediction. — St.  Paid  Globe,       .  86 

The  revival  of  race  antipathy  in  Canada. — New 
York  Herald,^      .....  87 

An  execution  which  will  tend  to  strengthen  the 
movement  for  separation. — Frrewav'^s  Jour- 
nal,, of  Dublin,  .  ... 

Almost  a  sacred  persi^n. — Pall  Hall  Gazetl<\ 

Love  for  his  countrv. — London  Echo. 

A  National  Disgrace. —  Toronto  Glohc,,    . 

The  Press  of  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
E Eveneinent,  of  Quebec, 
La.  Presse,  of  Montreal, 
L.e  Monde^  of  Montreal,  .... 
EEtfndard,  of  Montreal,    . 
TJ Electeur^  of  Quebec,     .... 

Highly  impolitic. — London  Daily  A^<??/;.s',  . 

The  tribute  of  a  paid  tool. — Quehec  Chronicle^ 

The  Paris  press,  M.  Eochefort  in  E Lntransigeant,   95 

Le  Eigaro^  of  Paris, 95 

The  wedge  of  discord  driven  deeply  into  the 
body  politicy. — Telegraph,  ....       96 

Sir  .John's  Motives, — The  editor  of  Le  Courrier 
des  Etats-  Unis,  of  New  York,         .         .  98 


89 
90 
90 
90 
91 
92 
93 
98 
94 
94 
94 
94 


Si 


—  199  — 


I'.\(;f,. 


AVill  tliore  be  another  insurrection? — Neir  llnwn 

Register^      .......       9!> 

A  legal  murder. — Hcuiford  Pont,       .         .  100 

The  execution  of  Kiel. — NeivYurl'  Tunt\s,  .  loo 
The  execution  of  Kiel. — New  York  Sta/\    .  101 

The  Canadian  hanging. — New  Yorl:  World,  .  lo2 
Canada    i   ))udiate8    the  crime. —  The  Montiral 

Daily  Post^ 104 

The   duty  of  tlie  hour. —  Catholic   Pecord,  of 

London,  Ontario,  .  .  .  .  .110 
Misgovernnient  and  Rebellion. — The  True  Wlt- 

net<H  and  Catholic  Chronicle  of  Montreal,  11. 'i 
The  situation  in  Ontario. — The  Irish  Canadian, 

of  Toronto,  Ontario, 110 

A  foul  deed. — The  Catholic  Pecord,  of  i^ondoii, 

Ontario,  .         .  .         .         .  118 

Irish  sympathy  for  Kiel  in  New  York,    .         .124 


IV. — Historical  Reminiscenx'es, 


125 


What  the  Figaro  (Paris),  says,         ,         .         .127 
A  Courageous  rascal,  .         .         .         .         .  VM) 

The  Execution,  from  the  Leader  of  Hegina,         I'jl 


V. — Three  Traitors, 


Vi\ 


Love  of  Power  above  love  of  cijuntry,     .  .139 

Cameleonic  criminality,       ....  140 

A  true  bill, 14(; 

Adding  cowardly  insult  to  crinunal  injustice,       149 


I 


j, 


200  — 


VI. — C.\)NI)i:mnki)  kvkx  Bkfoue  Tuiki>, 


PAGE. 

ma 


"()lil  tliat  Rifl,  if  f  can  over  ^et  liiin  in  my 


pOWCM'l  " 


Tlie  (lut'stion  of  the  hour, 


153 
15T 


V  1  I . — (  )ltANOKrSM, 


161 


'!l 


Oath  and  obh'gation  of  aTi  Oran«:;oman,    .         .  103 

Orangemen's  orginal  oath,       ....  1<').5 

Original  test,       ......  105 

Amended  oath  of  Orangemen,         .         .         .  100 

Amended  test, 107 

Obligation  of  an  Orangeman,           .         .         .  lOS 
"  Forgive  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  who 

trespass  against  ns,"         .         .         .         .  170 


•I 


VITI.  —  HlOGKAPHICAL    AND    DOCUMENTARY, 


173 


Biographical  sketch  of  Louis  David  Kiel  to  1809,  175 
Kiel  on  the  North-west  Question,        .         .  181 

Riers  last  letter  to  the /Wa'A  Ifo/'/.^/,        .         .182 
Kiel's  last  letter  to  his  mother,    .                  .  187 

Louis  Kiel's  Will, 189 


I 

if 

Si 


A  Postaeriptu7n, 


193 


PACT',. 

1  r>:\ 


11  y 


153 
157 


101 


.  103 

.  105 

105 

.  100 

107 

.   lOS 

10 

170 

.  173 

09,  175 
181 

.  182 
187 

.  189 


193 


